Blog 550 5th November 2026

When I was a tiddler - well tiddlier - Nov 5th was a day where I was taunted. Being called Guy was rare then (I asked my parents to rename me Dave but they refused) so all my super-creative school chums started calling me Guy Fawkes. Usually didn't last long. William Tell was on the TV so I became Lamberger Gessler

You can see why...

But my story today starts last Friday. I met a local friend in the Potting Shed. A former local journalist, which has of course become a threatened species. We chew the fat about Brentford, life and everything and he asks me for a bit of advice on a planning matter. Hope it helped him. Then I was due to go to Feltham to support a fellow Green member who was giving away cooked food at a stall. I couldn't find my keys and missed the date. The keys had hidden themselves under a low table avoiding what they claimed was a scary wolf. I gave them a serious talking-to.

On Saturday I had spotted there was a veteran car 'thing' in Pall Mall. I had various distractions which meant by the time I got there the show was nearly over.

There were a few stragglers including this one which unsurprisingly was outside the RAC club. Rather sweet but wouldn't fancy driving it to South Italy, or even South London.

In the evening dinner in my council chum Jasmine's place in Heston. Was surprised to see Jim Lawes there - a man I have been trying to break bread with for years. I had no idea they were chums, having been neighbours in one of the tower blocks nearby. Jim is of course an Evil Tory but he loves Brentford and surrounding areas and now lives in Netley Road. A privilege to spend an evening with him (and Jasmine and others).

Sunday was the day of the London to Brighton veteran car run. I had never seen it but a friend alerted me and I took the District line to Westminster early in the morning. The recommendation was to get there for dawn: too much for me but I was there for about 7.30.

Far more cars than I expected - here's a few

The Greggs lorry in the background was not part of the run.

Nor was this handsome but not veteran Lagonda

I don't know if this one was the back marker but I couldn't see any behind it

Whether it got to Brighton is another matter: I accompanied it from Whitehall to the start of Westminster Bridge and I had to stop walking to let it catch up.

A fun morning, and if I was pompous enough to have a bucket list that one would be chalked off. Next stop is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, I suppose.

Later a big event. Bea, my hairdresser, was finally opening her shop in Brentford. Nearly 2 years after she was evicted from her previous premises in Albany Parade. I suppose I now have no excuse for not getting my hair shorn 😮 So we're up to 3 of the 12 council-owned shops operating of the 12 I was told were eager to open there 2 years ago. I know retail is very difficult but having them marketed very poorly by an apparently not very interested sole agent based in Regent Street is not impressive. At least 2 I have spoken to were put off by the unhelpful approach of the council. Actually I think it's disgraceful - a word I rarely use, but let's celebrate Bea being here (and very busy when I walked past on Wednesday.)

I am still recovering from my fall last week so on Monday morning I am seeing the consultant about my formerly dislocated finger. It hasn't really hurt after it was set but now I have to start waggling it to ensure it works properly. All very efficient despite them apparently a couple of doctors down.

In the evening the Brentford Voice update about Ballymore. It leaves me a bit cold because in truth not much seems to change. I know they are getting on slowly with building some of the remaining buildings that had planning permission before I was first elected 11 1/2 years ago.

I confine myself to trying to get progress on a few small issues.

This neglected grassy (once!) bit outside the Duke place has had a broken fence for a year or 3. Someone asked about the Wilson and Kyles gates, which are stored somewhere. I reckon they would fit nicely here

Of course some people would want them elsewhere but I'm all for simple, easily delivered improvements.

Perhaps we can persuade Hounslow (or Ballymore, or Printmakers Yard) to make that riverside space into a little gem of a garden to reflect the prize the council recently won for its plans for public realm, where the reality is not at the same level as the vision! Of course, I suppose we would have to evict the fox that has made a burrow there. Perhaps Levy Real Estate could be engaged to find it a new mon repos.

This map doesn't help much. The orange bits are finished. The yellow bit they are building. They have started on the blue bit (where the asbestos has now gone). The pinky/purple bit is the listed Motorbase (or whatever it was) hidden behind hoardings and I think is getting towards being completed. The green bit (the only attractive bit of the car park building) they have as yet no plans. After 11 years about half has been finished, cf the former Heidelberg which was put up and largely occupied in 2 or 3 years.

On Tuesday Craig and I had a couple of local site visits. First to the Storex place on the corner of Ealing Road. I was never a fan of this and I hadn't realised it changed hands before it was built. It is dead boring inside!

But a good view from near the top.

Reminds me to update the plan for Griffin Park. Last time I asked, spades would be in the ground in September. Perhaps they are buried. I'm still not convinced by self storage and I want to look back on the initial planning we approved. Of course I was banished from planning for several years so lost track of what was agreed..

Then there were real spades in real ground where once Charlton House stood.

A bunch of councillors in silly hats and coats and one with hair over his face mitigating his panda look (due to bruising from last week's excitement!). Actually the spades are in the air, but you get the idea.

In the evening Green drinks at the Watermans Arms. I woke up on Wednesday with a serious cold but had to take my bike to Brentford Bike Works for a service which turned out to be more extensive (and expensive) than expected. I needed a new wheel. But that bike has been great - not yet stolen, only a couple of saddles! Oh, and pedals fell off.

I was planning to go to a Heathrow expansion event and maybe the Chiswick Area Forum, but in reality I spent most of the day in bed. Much better this morning which is handy as I am expected in Liverpool Street related to my friend in a care home.

In the evening a meet with the leaseholders in Holly House, who are still upset about the service and Section 20 renovation charges which they think are excessive and anyway should be reduced because of the mess they have suffered for several years.

The other hot issue is the continued works on Windmill Road and Whitestile: they are a big pain for residents and the timescale has been extended twice and still no committed end.

See y'all next week.