Finding Beauty in Spring Blooms, Kingfishers and Classic Cars

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Cllr Guy Lambert

April 19, 2024

Friday was my ‘day off’ but looking at my Outlook I find I actually sent nearly 50 emails that day, though a few of them were personal and a few were accepting meetings etc. In the afternoon I was back on the election trail, canvassing around Mafeking and Lateward and Brook Road South.

As I entered Lateward there were two people sitting on a wall outside a small council block. I went up to say hello and the man saw my Sadiq rosette and said he wasn’t going to vote for Sadiq. We had a friendly conversation about this and it was all about the ULEZ. He said he had 3 cars – all elderly to old – at least one old enough to be exempt of the ULEZ. Anyway it was fun to talk to him and we ended up disagreeing but still friends, as it were.

The lady who he had been chatting to him and had said little during this then asked if I was Guy Lambert, and did I write the weekly blog. This gave me a ‘here we go’ moment as people who raise it are not always enthusiasts, but this lady was different, and she said she enjoyed the blog and thanked me for doing it. This always raises my spirits!

This sight on the corner of Grosvenor Road and Brook Road South caught my eye.

Gorgeous.

I had a session in the gym at the immaculate Heston Leisure Centre. I have been nervous of the gym since my illness now 18 months ago so I had a first session for many months with a personal trainer. Somethings I used to do regularly I cannot do at present because one of my arms doesn’t work properly but it was a pleasure to do this and I got a reasonable sweat up, proving I am not Prince Andrew. Very nice and supportive young woman is my trainer and was sad to hear she too has physical difficulties with her joints. So unfair for someone very young and clearly very fit has these challenges.

Then I was off to Goodwood for my first dose of old car racing, always a highlight of my year. You’ll have to forgive me for a few pictures, but some of the old cars are a delight, for me at least!

A bunch of 1960s sports racers dicing at the chicane.

These 2 Can-Am cars from the 1960’s. These are not racing but it was wonderful to see some of the most insane vehicles ever raced. Here we have the first Shadow car which was making a virtue of making a small hole in the air – so low that the tyres had to be specially made for its tiny wheels and if you look closely you can see the hole in the front which allows the driver to race it without amputating his foot , though he had to put one foot sideways to fit.

Finally my real favourite:

A venerable 1905 Darracq 200HP racer, with its 22.5litre V8 engine, has just overtaken the strictly modern 1916 Sunbeam Indianopolis with a meagre 4.9 litre 6 cylinder engine. To me, the amazement of these vehicles is not only their design and diversity, but that anyone is brave enough to race them. The Darracq looks like a soapbox cart but will go at 120mph.

Anyway, the weekend was a joy, and involved a visit to Bognor Regis, a new destination to me. I believe a Zen sage observed that he/she had gone to see Mount Fuji but found it ‘nothing special’ though I can’t find the quotation. Anyway, I would say the same about Bognor Regis but I would not follow the alleged comment of King George V whose comment I am far too polite to repeat here.

On Monday I was back in Brentford heaven and had a relatively early visit to Hounslow heaven aka Hounslow House. I was on a panel with the Leader and deputy interviewing new applicants to be Group Managing Director for the Lampton group. The current MD is stepping back to his original role of chair so we interviewed 2 excellent candidates and selected one of them. Was a good morning, and two candidates, both very strong and with very distinct approaches, and I believe they made an appointment and expect him to start in May.

In the evening I was in the Digital Dock (if it wasn’t for Rolf Harris I think I would start calling it the Didgeridoo). This was a session set up by the Friends of Watermans Park. The presenter was entertaining, though he seems to have a bit of a one track mind – watching kingfishers. Lovely pictures so I’m just giving you this one. I still haven’t seen one but there were some tips about where to look.

Later I went to the Brentford and Chiswick History Society for an online talk about the Historians of Brentford and Chiswick. A lot more than I knew about. If you weren’t there in person or online, you’ve missed it – hard cheese

On Tuesday morning I went to Sam’s Riverside for the business breakfast organized by the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. Always an interesting way to meet local businesses, and I was particularly pleased to meet Sam, whom I had not previously encountered. His restaurant is definitely upscale and it will bring visitors into the town and I expect them to take an active role in the local community. Just for rare special treats for me – I’m more Boston Café or La Rosetta when I want something classy.

Afterwards, I attended an online security briefing. This had clearly not caught the attention of many councillors because there were only 3 of us for the whole country on line and more teachers than pupils! It always seems a bit remote, but a few years ago I received a (not very credible, but still) death threat and it does no harm to remind yourself to take care.

Then I was off by train (mainly) to London Councils HQ at the eccentric address 59 ½ Southwark Street. This was a meet of the Transport and Environment Committee which is normally attended by Katherine Dunne. An interesting change for me and the session was about floods and what we can do to manage this threat, which will increase as the climate changes (and when people pave over their gardens!) They have a study about ‘wetspots’ and a lot of the discussion is about floods originating in one council area and affecting another. Hounslow have been defined (by I know not whom) as a part of two common areas. You can see from this map that Brentford (East of Mother Brent) are put in a group with most of Ealing, Brent and bits of other boroughs whilst Hounslow and the West of the borough is a different group. I think we’re all less than crystal clear what to make of this, because the management of sewage as well as water is important and tricky. Personally I think water should be nationalised again and strong local influence (and responsibility) to manage all the local impacts.

Back to listen to the update from Ballymore (not a lot of news but updates of status) – Gail’s opened today (Thursday) I hear.

Then it was a trustee meeting of the FoodBox. Still improving our approach after big changes over the last 6 months which I’m pleased to say have not impacted the people we feed but we need to get clear about roles going forward.

That was a busy day, but Wednesday morning was free and the lunchtime NHS/Social Services integration meeting was short. Later I was out In Challis Road and thereabouts talking to residents. I am struck by how little there is about dissatisfaction in the local administration – even things like Watermans which infuriate many locals including me – but we find certain annoyance about the ULEZ. This affects very few people in reality but it does seem to matter to people to whom it makes no difference (though of course everyone will benefit from a better environment). And yes, it has been something that a few people had to make changes to adapt to the healthier new reality.

Very little reference to other candidates – a few Green enthusiasts and only one who mentioned Theo Dennison despite him having delivered no less than 5 leaflets. It’s interesting to see him actually doing something albeit, only to campaign and I’m happy we haven’t seen his mentor George Galloway in Brentford though we’ve seen him with Theo’s ‘independent’ chums Nisar Malik and Amrit Mann.

On Wednesday evening we had the ward panel where the local police meet with representatives from Brentford East and West wards. It was good to meet the two PCs who serve Brentford W and our PCSO. One of the PCs for Brentford E was also here. They reported that they are finally now up to the agreed staff level, though 2 PCs, I PCSO and no Sergeant is very different than what we had 9 years ago when I started. Then there were 1 sergeant, 4 PCs and 2 PCSOs serving a single ward. Still, this is real progress and I (and the other people who attend) greatly appreciate the contribution of the ward teams – a section of the Met that it’s very hard not to value highly.

On Thursday morning I had my regular online update with the Chair of Lampton. He has onerous tasks at the moment, not least getting ready to welcome a new MD. Much of Lampton has been performing really well with the waste and recycling business recording their best performance ever , with 99.975% of the bins collected. We are very confident that is the best outcome in London, though other boroughs don’t have the comprehensive analysis we do.

The housing market is still very tricky and it grieves me that too many people have to live in squalid HMOs or flats often run by very dodgy landlords, when Lampton could do a lot better. They need some funding to add to the 600 odd homes it already provides for very affordable rents to people previously paying high rents for often horrible homes from private landlords whilst they waited for council accommodation. Lampton Homes can make a surplus to pay back to the council but at present it does not have capital to buy more.

Later I have to go to my least-favourite hospital, St Mary’s. They are looking at my bones, but the man doing it declined to comment on whether I had any left. It reminds me of 24 hours in police custody.

Another week bites the dust. Arrivederci.

Councillor Guy Lambert