Final bit of the Diamond Jubilee

I took my children to the last hour of the Carnival at Blenheim Park on Saturday.  I was glad that the weather was better than it is today.

Yesterday, I went to the Hounslow Barracks and it was the first time I had done so since the Welsh Guards arrived.  I went to attend the Diamond Jubilee Event at the Cavalry barracks.

Before the celebrations, I joined some other Councillors at the the official opening of the Reflective garden space at the Service Family Accommodation Area in Beavers Crescent.  Councillor Sharma said some very nice words.

A couple of pictures taken:

Always pleased to see Welsh and UK flags together!

It was a brilliant event, especially for the children.

Congratulations Alan Keen

Knowing how flat out I, and others on my campaign team, have worked not only during this campaign but over a much longer period, this is clearly an impressive result for Labour.  Naturally I feel very disappointed.  There were things that I did not expect such as the following:

1. For the Labour vote to hold up in Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth to hold up the way it did;
2. For the gap between Labour and Conservatives to be as large as it was in Hounslow West & Cranford and, to a lesser extent, Heston

We secured the most votes in Bedfont, Feltham North, Feltham West, Hanworth Park and Hanworth.  However, Labour won by a much greater margin in Heston West, Heston Central, Heston East, Hounslow West and Cranford.

Labour invested heavily in this constituency and I saw over 20 different items of literature from them during the campaign.  They took the threat of the Conservatives seriously.

I respect and accept the decision of residents in this constituency and congratulate Mr Keen.  I do not think I have ever been so tired when giving a speech before but glad I got through it at around 05:30am.  My team could not have done anything more to win this and I will always be grateful to them for their passion and loyalty.

Off to another count at mid-day.  I hope I will continue as a Councillor for Feltham North.

Stalls yesterday

We were on Feltham High Street yesterday morning and in Hounslow West yesterday afternoon.  I got to meet a lot of people in both places.  I met a lot more at the latter who were still thinking about who to support whereas the residents I spoke with in Feltham were firmer about whether they were going to support or oppose me. Fortunately, more were in favour than against.  I take huge satisfaction when people tell me that they used to be Labour but will support me at the election.  Only received abuse twice and unfortunately one man swore at me in front of my wife, which is something I do not appreciate.

It [me living in Feltham North] continues to be an advantage when I am out and about in Feltham.  It is crucial I continue to work all areas of the constituency.

Used the Loud Hailer a little bit and gladly introduced myself as the local candidate and the one best placed to beat Labour.

Hounslow West stall yesterday

A very successful afternoon was had in Hounslow West.  Here is a picture from the session withIqbal Butt (one of our candidates in Cranford) on the left, Tony Viney on the right and me in the centre:

Hounslow West 18/04/10

I do not usually go out and about on Sunday’s (however, I need to change that during times like this where time is so short) but picked up a lot of issues yesterday.

1) Highways

Near 2 Cardington Square:

Outside 6 Cardington Square:

Side of 8 Cardington Square (more than one defect here):

32 Cardington Square:

28 Hinton Avenue:

52 Hinton Avenue:

Opposite 44 Hinton Avenue (looks dangerous):

2) Utility box opposite 4 Hinton Avenue

3) Graffiti on utility box opposite 18 Bulstrode Gardens:

Will report shortly.

Hounslow West 14/04/10

I noticed the following outside 282 Bath Road earlier today:

This does not look anywhere, least of all shopping parades.  I will find out when this will be removed and what the causes of these were likely to be?

Hounslow West yesterday lunchtime

Saw three examples of too many black bags, two of which are captured here:

Hounslow West 13/03/2010

Picked up quite a lot today and also saw Labour out and about (wonder how much they picked up?).  Here goes:

1) Graffiti

I have already reported the following on Sutton Lane (reference 1083219):

I also noticed tagging on the wall at the entrance (not yet reported):

Near 2 Heathdale Avenue:

Opposite 4 Standard Road:

Opposite 16 Standard Road:

Osborne Road (near junction with Stafford Road):

Side of shop on Wellington Road North (junction with Osborne Road):

Bus Stop on Staines Road (near junction with Wivenhoe Court):

Near 35 Osborne Road:

Laurel Gardens (near junction with Barrack Road):

171 Martindale Road:

Next to 77 Cambridge Road:

2) Utility boxes

Bowness Drive:

Near 1 Ferndale Avenue:

And the most odd of all opposite 42 Sutton Lane:

3) Drains

The following need some attention.  First near 14 Grosvenor Road:

Grosvenor Road again (near junction with Wellington Road North):

4) Highways

Near 1 Grosvenor Road:

Near 2d Stafford Road:

Near 5 Grosvenor Road:

19 Grosvenor Road:

Opposite 30 Standard Road:

Opposite 84 Cambridge Road:

Footway outside 9 Corporation Avenue:

11 Charter Crescent:

21 Charter Crescent:

46 Charter Crescent:

60 Charter Crescent:

12 Sutton Lane:

15 Ravensdale Road:

A really good job was done opposite 18/20 Bowness Road after I reported it:

4) Street Cleaning in Osborne Road

Great to see on a Saturday:

5) Litter

Next to 54 Sutton Lane:

Next to 160 Martindale Road:

Barrack Road junction with Cardington Square:

6) Smashed glass

Near bridge on Sutton Lane:

7) Empty Properties

155 Wellington Road North has been empty for a while.  I will see if steps are being taken to bring it back into use?

A majority of the flats at St Pauls Court (off Standard Road) appeared to be empty:

But good to see the following in Wellington Road North now in use.  I remember chasing these when empty a 3 or so years ago:

8.) Beaversfield Park

Another Park looking really nice:

9) And

I could not help but notice the following on Staines Road:

Will report most sections (not section 9) on Monday morning.

A few pics from a morning out in Hounslow West

As always a few things to report.  First, the drain gulley in Trinity Close (junction of Cambridge Road) could be tidied up:

This bin on Cambridge Road (junction with Selwyn Close) looks rather full – will check the schedule for emptying it out (same applies for bin in Cambridge Road junction with Martindale Road):

The following flytip is in Clare Road:

And the following was in Dawn Close (junction with Martindale Road):