Another local paper goes online

I found out today that Chronicle are now online.  The Times are also online and have been for a while.

I have been thinking about a weekly review of the local papers on this blog.  This will make it easier.  Watch this space!

Cannabis Factories

This morning, I had a short interview with BBC Southeast about the above.  Think it went ok considering that it was my first TV interview.  Around half a dozen or so landlords have had their properties turned into cannabis factories without them knowing.

Having another interview at lunchtime with London Tonight. 

Kulveer Ranger

I found out earlier today that Kulveer has been appointed by Mayor Boris Johnson to the role of Director of Transport Policy.  I have met Kulveer a few times and always found him very friendly and engaging.

I wish him all the best in his new role and it is great to see a London Borough of Hounslow man doing well.

Letter sent to Alan Keen MP

Dear Mr Keen

It will come as no surprise to you that I am writing to you about the remarks you made at the ‘Save Our Homes’ event last Saturday at Osterley Hotel.  My response to what you said at the time will have indicated just how horrified I was.

The comments you made (and which I wrote down at the time) that cause me the most concern were:

• That the [planning] culture has changed at the Council in the past couple of years and that when you represented the Hounslow West ward on the Council, the Local Authority recognised a different culture and would take a more lenient view for those with extended families;
• Your claim that the rules were previously relaxed for Punjabi families.

You will recall that I stated openly that I considered the above approach fundamentally wrong, dangerous and extremely unhelpful for those of us who are working hard in the areas of community cohesion and maintaining good race relations locally.

I only have two questions to ask you:

1. Would you provide examples of how rules were previously relaxed?
2. On reflection, do you have any regrets about what you said last Saturday?

I believe that planning policies, such as the Council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP), exist and apply equally to all residents.  Any planning permission, refusal or enforcement actions are made in accordance with the policies set out in the UDP and they set out the general direction in which change will be encouraged or resisted.  I would personally resist a relaxation of any of these policies for certain racial or ethnic groups.  I regret that we have a different point of view on this.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Mark Bowen
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in Feltham & Heston

Content of my email to Leader of the Labour Group

Councillor Sharma,
 
It will come as no surprise to you that I am writing to you about the remarks you made at the ‘Save Our Homes’ event last Saturday at Osterley Hotel.
 
During your speech you claimed that Members from the coalition groups are putting pressure on Officers in the Planning Enforcement team to go after people.
 
Please answer the following questions:
 
1. How does this pressure manifest itself and what evidence do you have for this taking place?

2. Do you have a problem with any of the successful prosecutions that were instigated by LBH against those who did not comply with enforcement notices?  If you do, which ones?

3. More generally, you and I listened to the concerns expressed by those who attended the event.  What changes, if any, do you believe need to be made?
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Regards
Councillor Bowen

Save our Homes

Earlier in the week, all Councillors received a letter inviting them to a discussion, entitled “Save our Homes”.

The content was as follows:

“We are the residents of the London Borough of Hounslow. As you are aware, enforcement actions have been carried out by the London Borough of Hounslow’s Planning Department, against law abiding citizens of our borough. This has been a very disturbing development within our council. We are extremely concerned about this and would like to inform you, that we are holding a meeting to discuss these issues on Saturday the l0th of May at the Osterley Park Hotel at Great West Road from 11am to 1pm.

We would be extremely grateful if you would grace us with your presence, so that you may heart he views of the local people that you represent within our council.”

A number of Councillors attended, such as Councillors Sheila O’Reilly, Mohinder Gill, Pritam Grewal, Jagdish Sharma, Gopal Dhillon, Rajinder Bath, Ajmer Grewal and I.  Alan Keen MP was also present.

During my time there, I met some very nice people who made constructive suggestions.  Unfortunately, I was extremely shocked, saddened and concerned at what was said by some members from the Labour Party - more on this later.

Got a welcome from one gentleman in the audience that I had never had before - and one I will not forget.  It was on the lines of:

Me [addressing audience]: Thank you for the invite and it is very nice to see you all despite some of the things that were just said about me.  I would like to give you….

The Gentleman in the audience [hostile and aggressive]: Who are you? C’Mon tell us who you are?

Me: I do apologise.  I have made the mistaken assumption that the audience knew whom I was.

The Gentleman in the audience [still hostile and aggressive]: Are you BNP?

Me: I find that very offensive!

etc etc.  I got back on track and others persuaded him not to pursue his line of attack.  I am keen to stress that aside from comments from certain members of the Labour Party and one or two others, the vast majority at the event were very civil and polite.

I made a number of comments to the audience and some of these were:

1. I wanted to be honest as opposed to popular;
2. My argument would be consistent whether I was addressing an audience in Hanworth, Feltham, Cranford, Heston, Hounslow or Chiswick;
3. We are equal under the law and planning policies should not be adapted to meet cultural needs in the way that was advocated by the local MP;
4. The argument that we should be treated differently by planning departments because of our cultural background is very dangerous;
5. I am proud of the huge improvements that have been delivered in the planning enforcement area;
6. Before making alterations, such as extensions, outbuildings, porches, pillars, canopys etc residents should touch base with the planning department in advance of making an application and certainly in advance of carrying out works.
7. Whatever residents are being told by certain Councillors, Councillors from all parties are approving the vast majority of enforcement notices going out.

Sheila O’Reilly dealt with some of the technical aspects of planning and the decision making process.  As is typical for her, she was excellent.

I had no problem in facing the music, just as I will not have a problem with exposing the comments from others.  Watch this space!

Another blog in Hounslow

My good friend, and Executive colleague, Phil Andrews has launched his blog.  Great to hear that this is catching on and I look forward to seeing updates about Isleworth & his Housing Portfolio.

Off to City Hall

I am off to City Hall this morning.  Hoping to watch the Assembly Meeting (and see Tony Arbour) and then will be attending an informal lunch with Mayor Boris Johnson and Leaders of the London Boroughs (I am Deputising for Councillor Peter Thompson).  Lets hope I do not have any negative transport experiences getting there!

Pedestrian Island in Staines Road

I think that residents in Staines Road, Feltham and surrounding streets will be very please to know that there is an update to the fight for improved pedestrian access on Staines Road (near the junction with Pentelow Gardens.

Here is a link to the West Area agenda for 15 May.  And, here is a link to the relevant agenda item.

If residents have any questions, please let me know.

Great day for the Conservatives

I have just returned from spending the day at Kensington Olympia, where the count [electronic] took place.  It sure was a long day but worth it to see Tony Arbour returned with a majority of almost 27,000 over the Liberal Democrats.  And, we now have Boris as our Mayor!

It always disappoints me when people are not gracious in defeat.  Tony’s opponents, especially the Lib-Dems, should have congratulated him and applauded when he spoke!  Really pleased for Tony because he is genuinely an excellent local representative whom I admire!