Julius Caesar's Toilet Lost Forever Under Morrisons Car Park

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Cllr Guy Lambert

December 22, 2022

On Friday I had arranged to a former colleague at Hounslow – once in Planning here and now leading the planning in another borough who have a different approach to planning and the use of council-owned companies. I had forgotten the café called Rada in Trico House in Great West Quarter: not in my ward any more so doesn’t really count. But it’s a lovely café and the people who run it are also. A few years ago they had windows broken more than once and this was causing lots of anxiety as well as costs and I think we were concerned there might have been a racial element (the people who ran it - and I presume still do – are both women and Muslim so potentially fit more than one reason to be challenged by certain idiots). I remember meeting an ex-army security man at the time, who was very reassuring, and I think working with the Managing Agent. I never heard any more so I guess he solved the problem.

Talking to this planning expert who I know well, and her reflections on how her new environment (and her old environment!) works was very enlightening.

After this I did one of my cycle around the ward activities, that I do from time to time. This included Boston Manor Park where I took a pic of our swanky new cafe which is now a Park Hub (or will be when they finish it and find someone to run a café!)

In the evening we had a Labour councillors' Christmas social at Hounslow House. We were originally told to bring a dish, so I spent many hours creating and cooking something which Escoffier would have been proud of (or more accurately, buying chilli-coated cauliflower from M&S and sticking it in the oven in a very Delia way). I didn’t read the letter sent later which said only Guy has the culinary skills so don’t bother bringing your own, so my meagre quantity had to fill up 40 or so councillors. Anyway, it was nice to have a social powered by Coke etc.

Things are beginning to wind down for the holidays so my day was free other than inspecting the Morrisons Car Park which has been resurfaced and the disabled bit restored. That toilet complex, which I identified as having to have been built for Julius Caesar and his chums, or the customers of Nice People Nice Prices International are now lost for ever for those who missed the excavation.

Morrisons new car park

I was then into Hounslow House for a meeting with the Leader and officers, as we looked at various things we are considering to save some money and protect services next year. Nothing obvious, but a bit of imagination might get us there, probably combined with some things we don’t want to do.

Tuesday was quiet too, but I went to see my doctor (or nurse more precisely) as my age has entitled me to a new privilege, an inoculation against Shingles. It’s after they do it that they give you a long list that might happen if you’re very unlucky. I was lucky this time.

Later we had an update about finance at Lampton – it’s still very challenging, mainly because of inflation, but everybody is doing their utmost best to confine any downsides.

On Wednesday I was off to Charing Cross to see my physiotherapist. He’s a very nice man, but it doesn’t stop him from telling me I am doing the exercises all wrong, I was using a litter picker to do my arm stretches but he told me I must use a longer pole. He suggested I use an umbrella but mine is about a foot long. When I got home I disassembled my sweeping brush which has the added bonus to give me an excuse not to sweep. Anyway, he seems to think that I need to be physioed every week rather than once a month, something I can’t say I welcome!

Today’s meetings had one cancelled for lack of interest and one because of a pandemic of stubbed toes meaning people unable to get about. Salman and I did talk to the MD of Lampton Leisure, where we both thought there was room to improve how Leisure inform the world about things that (inevitably) change but often cause upsets.

This evening, a slap up dinner with my cabinet colleagues in a very secret location in Isleworth (before you ask – we’re paying it ourselves and it’s very expensive!) and apart from a Teams meeting tomorrow when I will get an update on the fate of our loved police station (well, somebody must) and then I’m done for this tumultuous year.

This year has been a very scary one for me – mainly in September and October – but I am still not back to what I used to pretend was normal, though still gradually improving. I wish I could say the same for my country and the world. Thank heaven for cricket, and see you all next year,

Councillor Guy Lambert