Should Hammersmith & Fulham Declare Independence?

According to our Council, the residents of Hammersmith & Fulham bucked the national trend in the recent referendum by a wide margin, voting 70% in favour of remaining in the European Union. Just 30% voted to leave, on a high turnout of almost 70%.  Hammersmith & Fulham Council Leader, Cllr Stephen Cowan also sought to calm the nerves of anxious Europeans in our neighbourhood. He said that the Council "wants to send a very clear and very warm message of welcome to the thousands of EU citizens that have made our borough their home."

St Stephen's Summer Fair Saturday 2 July at Noon

Summer Fair on Saturday

On Saturday 2 July St Stephen's School on the Uxbridge Road is having a summer fair.  

The Fair takes place from noon until 4pm and will involve lots of activities for families and children. 

Entry is 50p for children, £1 for adults, and £2 for families. 

So come along and support one of the best schools in our local neighbourhood. 

Night Tube To Begin On 19 August

The Night Tube, the 24 hour Underground service that was scheduled to start last September, is now due to start on 19 August, with the Central Line leading the way.

This means that trains from Shepherd's Bush to central London will run 24 hours a day, making London (like New York City) "The City That Never Sleeps".

A good thing then for late-night clubbers, and night-shift workers, but less welcome perhaps for anyone in Shepherd's Bush who wants a quiet life.

White City Place Public Consultation June 28, June 30 & July 2

BBC White City in 2013

The developers of White City Place (that's the old BBC White City site at the top of Wood Lane, next to the Westway) are hosting a series of public consultations on their plans to redevelop and refurbish the site.

There are to be three such events, to be held on on June 28, June 30 and July 2 at the Wood Lane Community Centre, and local residents are invited to come along, view the architectural plans on display, and offer their views.

Shepherd's Bush Post Office Says No

Computer says NO!

Why is the Shepherd's Bush Post Office still so terrible? Memorably described by Richard Herring as "the portal between Earth and Hades", our local Post Office seems to be entirely resistant to the modern world.

I mean, really, all I wanted was a stamp. Is that too much to ask? But both digital stamp machines were out of order and the line was as long as you would expect it to be on a Saturday. And, it being lunchtime (the busiest time), most of the staff seemed to be away having lunch. D'Oh!

So I went to Sainsbury's instead. They still sell stamps, and they seem to have a somewhat better grip on commercial reality.

Awards from The Hammersmith Society

Last week we reported on The Hammersmith Society's "wooden spoon" awards, for new architecture in our neighbourhood which got it wrong, and missed an opportunity to enhance our streets.

But the Hammersmith society doesn't only blow rasberries. Their Environmental Awards are primarily designed to praise good architecture which enhances our public spaces and adds to the beauty of our neighbourhood. Right now, there is a lot of building going on, and this year four awards were handed out for excellent schemes which helped to make our Borough a better place to live.  

Wooden Spoons from The Hammersmith Society

Last night The Hammersmith Society, the organisation that campaigns for good architecture and good civic design in our neighbourhood, announced the winners of its annual "Wooden Spoon" Awards. 

A bit like the "Razzies" in Los Angeles (an award that no Hollywood film-maker wants to win) Wooden Spoons go to buildings which have made our neighbourhood worse, not better. Wooden Spoons are a way of "naming and shaming" the new build which misses a chance to improve our streets.  

This year the Hammersmith Society awarded three Wooden Spoon awards.

To Brexit Or Not To Brexit

Eddie Morgan is a film-maker who lives in Shepherd's Bush (his production company Northern Town has its home on the Goldhawk Rd), and a passionate Europhile. In this video he has made with Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister sets out his case for why the UK should remain in Europe. It's an emotional piece, filmed amidst the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, and his argument is basely largely on the peace and prosperity that Europe has enjoyed since the disaster of two world wars. No bogus economic statistics here - just an old-fashioned call to arms.

Escape Studios Hosting "Animation Taster Day" Tomorrow in Shepherd's Bush for Just £5

Escape Studios, the animation and visual effects school based in Shepherd's Bush, have two seats left for their "Animation Taster Day" at Escape Studios tomorrow, Thursday 9 June.

Escape are running this animation taster day as part of Hammersmith and Fulham Arts Fest, to help give future animators an idea of what it's like to work in the  industry.

Fancy working in the movie business, on 3D animated films? You career as an animator begins here, and the whole day of training costs just £5. Escape will even provide lunch.

First Annual Kite Art Exhibition Saturday 18th June

Kite Studios (just off Askew Road) is inviting local residents to join them on the 18th June 2016, from 4pm to 7pm for the First Annual Kite Art Exhibition. 

There is also a party from 7.30pm onwards, helping to raise funds for the Kite Studios art education sponsorship fund.

So come along on June 18th, check out some great art, and get involved with your local community.

Shepherd's Bush Past and Present

This video hosted at YouTube is an edited collection of old photographs of Shepherd's Bush, including many shots dating back to the early 1900s, and some photos of bomb damage during the war. See if you can spot your street in the photo montage.

Macfarlane Road Residents' Association - What Does It Do?

You probably aren't aware of them, but Shepherd's Bush is full of residents' associations that do their best to work on behalf of local communities to improve our neighbourhood.

"Big Local" Summer Festival in White City - Saturday 23rd July from 1pm

W12 Festival 2016

The W12 Festival is coming to our streets this summer. "Big Local" in White City is busy planning this year's Summer Festival, with the date set for Saturday 23rd July from 1pm until 7pm, in Wormholt Park.

The day will be full of family activities, local performers, street food from local caterers and "an opportunity to celebrate all that’s good and inspiring about our little patch of London".

And tomorrow, on Thursday 2nd June, there's a "creative workshop" from 2-4pm for local residents to pitch ideas and get involved.

Pergola On The Roof at Television Centre Now Open

Pergola on the Roof - now at TV Centre

Pergola on the Roof, the rooftop restaurant that is bringing outdoor dining to the top of the old soon-to-be-demolished carpark on Wood Lane, has just opened to the public. 

Open all summer long, Pergola on the Roof follows on from Storeys, last year's street food venture that brightened up White City for the summer of 2015.

Referendum Debate Tuesday 31st May 2016 at 7pm at Hammersmith Town Hall

Confused and undecided about the great Brexit debate? Much of what passes for debate on the subject seems to be personal mud slinging and also terrifying predictions of economic collapse or, on the other side, a tidal wave of immigration to our shores.

So if you still haven't made your mind up about how to vote in June, there is a Referendum Debate on Tuesday 31st May 2016 at 7pm, to be hosted at Hammersmith Town Hall, King St, London, W6 9JU.

The debate will include speakers like David Owen and Douglas Carswell MP. The evening is sponsored by the Bruges Group, and entry is free.

The Bush Telegraph offers a personal view on life in Shepherd's Bush. If you would like to contribute a story about our neighbourhood, email us at shepherdsbushblog@gmail.com.

Joe Lycett at Bush Hall on Friday 10th June

Joe Lycett

Comedian Joe Lycett (Live At The Apollo, Sunday Night at the Palladium, and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown) is coming to Shepherd's Bush.

Lycett will be performing at our very own Bush Hall at 310 Uxbridge Road on Friday 10th June at 7pm. Tickets are £20 (ish) and can be bought online at the official site.

The evening also includes performances by James Acaster and Kerry Godliman, and is hosted by Ed Gamble of Mock The Week.

Westfield Launches Community Grants Scheme

Got a local project in need of finance? Westfield London, the giant mall whose expansion north up Wood lane will make them by far the biggest shopping centre in the UK, has launched a new community grants initiative.

The community grants scheme will support local organisations with up to £1,000 each. Up to twenty projects will be selected each year over the next two years. So, what kind of projects might receive funding?

Council Offers Residents Subsidised Composters For Just £12

Free compost!

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is encouraging residents to compost their kitchen and garden waste.

The Council has teamed up with GetComposting.com to offer composters at subsidised prices, with a 220-litre model available for £12, instead of the usual £39.99.

So, how can Shepherd's Bush gardeners get their (nearly free) composter?

TV Centre Meeting for Local Residents on Wednesday 25th May

3D Model of revamped Helios building

Stanhope, the developers who are currently masterminding the huge redevelopment curently underway on the old BBC site on Wood Lane, are organising a briefing for local residents on Wednesday 25th May at 7pm in the East Tower, Television Centre.

Anyone with an interest in how this development turns out is invited to come along, listen, and share their views.

Sex Pistols Return To Shepherd's Bush

In this video from 2008, Sex Pistols' band members Steve Jones & Paul Cook return to Shepherd's Bush, with some not very nice things to say about the neighbourhood where they grew up, especially Shepherd's Bush Market. Cooke's Pie and Mash (sadly now gone) gets a good write-up - it's "the only thing" Steve Jones misses about the Bush, compared with his current life in Los Angeles.