Weekly Update From Councillor Guy Lambert

A Christmas tree for Brentford and an election for us all

Denis Godliman and niece Linda, accompanied by Mayor of Hounslow, Cllr Tony Louki

There was a lot of Lampton on Thursday, starting with a session about strategy and plans with the new(ish) Chair, then a separate and longer meeting where we discussed the houses Lampton has built or is currently building with partners EcoWorld, many of which are being purchased by the council for council homes. About 30 of these in central Hounslow will be ready in January with the next batch of about 20 on the Acton Lodge site in Brentford and 20 in Bedfont late next year, joining the 140-odd existing places Lampton has already purchased and which now have people off the housing list installed.

Later on I was in Clayponds Avenue for a door-knock. Some people from Richmond turn up to help and we manage to cover Clayponds Avenue and Springvale. Heartening how many people will turn out for Ruth, even those who are a bit tired of elections (tell me about it).

Then down to the Market Square. Some rather chilly carol singers serenade his Worshipful Highness Mr 55th Mayor of Hounslow as he turns the lights on in his party frock. He’s accompanied in the above picture by Brentford’s favourite centenarian Denis Godliman, who reached his milestone in July, and Denis’ niece Linda.

We then settled down to the quiz, lubricated with a bit of mulled wine. My team of 2 people scored 21, which I reckon should have won on the basis that 10.5 right answers per person easily beats the 5.4 per person of the ‘winning team’ which scored 27 between 5 of them. Unfortunately Ref Louki didn’t agree and VAR is not available in the Verdict. Good news is that I won a fab Christmas decoration from Naked Grain in the raffle. Also good news from the Magpie across the road, where food collection boxes for Hounslowfoodbox  were bulging. But don’t think we have had enough because the foodbox is Oliver Twist and none of you is Mr Bumble. Please, Brentford, we want some more. Talking of more, after all this stress a chap had to stagger across to La Rosetta (established 1988 according to its website and according to the quizmaster, but I insist it was there when I arrived in Brilliant in 1977 so they must all be wrong) for some Italian comfort food – and beer, obviously.

I spent most of Friday and Saturday organising leaflets to go out around Brentford over the weekend and Monday/Tuesday as my colleague who has been organising stuff locally had taken a timely ‘surprise holiday’ to Madrid.

On Sunday afternoon a band of brothers and sisters from all points of the compass, about 6 of us, are braving the cold on Netley Road and surrounding streets for my final door knock of the campaign until polling day itself.

Monday morning I do a bit of leafletting on my own account in one of the towers, then dump a pile of them with a colleague in Green Dragon Lane, which affords the opportunity for a discussion about life, the universe, Boris Johnson and the price of fish over a cup of coffee. Then I head out with chums from the FoodBox to a free lunch provided by the Hilton at Heathrow Terminal 4. Very nice too, and I remember when that building was built and how amazing it was. It’s lasted well. Good nosh in good company. Those FoodBox volunteers are fantastic.

Then it’s Chiswick for a refresher on how to run a polling day committee room, which clashes with a meeting I really wanted to attend at Boston Manor Park, related to the Junction 2 festival. Gutted to miss it.

Tuesday morning I’m up another couple of towers before heading off to Hounslow House. It always pays to spend a few seconds taking in the views from the 22nd floor. The towers are looking so much more handsome after their sprucing up. And the river and beyond . No more needs to be said – makes the soul sing!

Meet with the Executive Director for environment and her sidekick and we discuss Cleaner Greener Hounslow for the umpteenth time. Beginning to gather pace and if we make the progress we expect next year we’ll have plenty to be proud of. Also good to see all the various teams putting enthusiasm into improving this Borough and working sweetly together.

A brief few minutes with Ruth and her team outside St Paul’s Primary school. I’m standing in for the Melvinator who is glowing nicely after a scan on some part of his anatomy. He says he might cook the children if he turns out, so I suppose he’s gone home to cook his wife.

Then into Hounslow again for a finance meeting. Finances are going well and we should meet our savings targets (though of course we’ll have to save still more next year).

Then into Chiswick to pick up some material for Thursday and to attend the Citizen’s Advice Bureau AGM. You get a pleasing view from the windows of the first floor of Chiswick Town Hall. Being a superior artiste of the camera I succeed in getting a ghostly image of the pictures inside to go with the view of Turnham Green. Well, it was too cold to open the windows.

This is Wednesday morning because I’ll be a ‘bit busy’ tomorrow: voting at 7, opening the committee room at 7.30, running it or out knocking up all day until 10. Then in the count at the Fountain leisure centre until perhaps 6am on Friday. I imagine I’ll grab a couple of hours zizz at some stage. Your mission, which you really should choose to accept, whichever way you tend, is to GET OUT AND VOTE so take note if you read this before 10pm Thursday.

Vote for Ruth Cadbury. You really do know it makes sense.

Cllr Guy Lambert

The list of prospective parliamentary candidates for Brentford & Isleworth is:

Ruth Cadbury (Labour)
Seena Shah (Conservative)
Helen Cross (Liberal Democrat)
Daniel Goldsmith (Green)
Lucy O'Sullivan (Brexit)

December 20, 2019