Messing About on (and Beside) the Water

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert

June 27, 2025

On Friday I was along to the Spire cafe to meet a resident with a housing problem. He and his wife have two children including a baby and live in a one bedroom Housing Association flat. I remember dealing with his wife some time ago when because of some physical limitations she was having trouble getting her children and all their gubbins up the stairs. But nothing changed despite my attempts (too often the fate of the councillor and the person who looks to a councillor to help) and now her medical problems have deteriorated and they have a baby.

I have to be honest about these things. 2 small children, 2 parents and a baby under 12 months are not regarded in law as overcrowded. The children (or parents) can sleep in the living room/kitchen and the baby can sleep with his/her parents until he reaches the magic one year old. The council generally say that it is down to the Housing Association to deal with this because they are their tenants, but I try to get the council to assist, especially as there are letters from various doctors explaining the urgency. No response as yet, but the staff in housing do their level best to help, despite the task being almost impossible given the lack of supply of accommodation.

In the afternoon I was invited by Hadley, the developer, to cruise the river/canal on what turned out to be the boat used on Saturday for the public trips. I was picked up at the Holiday Inn and was excited to go through the lock. But it turned out that we only went below the lock to turn round (which involved a bump into the banks causing a bit of alarm! We then went back and forth a few times between the lock and Clitherow's island. Lovely day and a real pleasure.

Many of the great and good were in attendance (their opinion, not necessarily mine in every case ) Members of the cabinet, senior officers, various people from the developers. Fizzy wine was on offer as were some fabulous sights.

I had rarely seen dragonflies around Brentford but they were everywhere. They are either very good at hiding from a camera or perhaps is that the person with a camera is useless. Out of about 10 pics I took, often with 4 or 5 of the critters on my screen, this lonely fly was the only one that is visible.

Saturday of course was the Canal Festival. I went up to Boston Manor Park and had a coffee at the lovely Potting Shed, then decided to go and do a morning recce of the Festival site. So I found my way to Robin Grove and over the new(ish) bridge and along Brentford Lock West. Everybody fussing about getting ready. My volunteering shift was 3pm to 6pm so I took in a bit of test match (what a great one!) and then turned up at the Digital Dock. My job was as a wandering minstrel (fortunately for everyone I suppressed the Minstreling) so I took a bunch of programmes.

I have a history of handing out bits of paper, but handing out election leaflets at the station is very different to people who are actually trying to get some information about the event! I thought the programmes were masterful and all the feedback I had was positive. I thought the event was pretty wonderful and further proof that the spirit of Brentford is strong. The canal festival was a triumph and we have both the 'Brentford Festival' to come in Blondin Park and the Creative Mile also. Linda Massey has announced this is her last year organising the Festival and I hope we can find a new way of having a Brentford Festival, preferably in the heart of the town or at Boston Manor. But it needs someone with the determination and talent of Linda to lead this. Not many around like her!

Well lots of music to listen to, people to talk to, and a bit of Korean street food (do they really do a lot of loaded fries in Seoul?) which was lovely, though too much for me.

I spent a few minutes on the Heritage Harbour stand. We are in the process of registering as a charity and that will I hope increase the intensity. The stand was compromised by the wind blowing the signs over and when I got there our banner was behind a beautifully full bin.

I did do a bit of strategic relocating, but I thought we need something better to attract attention. The obvious thing is a model boat and I have been looking on the world wide web but found nothing too inspiring. Anybody got any old barge models or the like they can donate or sell to me? I think something 3 to 5 feet long would be ideal!

On Sunday I was expecting the pub regatta but that was my brain, such as it is, misfunctioning - it is this Saturday. I'm told my assistance may be needed on the councillors' boat as a few have dropped out. I doubt I will be much of an asset but it sounds like fun.

So on Sunday I went to Chiswick because I thought it might be the flea market there. Sorry it's Chiswick - no fleas, exquisite butterflies. Anyway, it wasn't, it was the food market which had most of the stalls we had the day before. I resisted partaking this time.

On Monday evening we had the annual photograph of councillors up at Boston Manor. A slightly weird experience because it wasn't easy for the photographers to organise the councillors who bothered to turn up in a slightly awkward (though magnificent) space. Eventually we had picture of all those present, then one with all the Labour ones, what's left of the Tories. Then it was down to the Independents. Obviously, the Independents need a whip because neither of my fellow-Independents made the gig. There was some discussion but I insisted on a picture of little me flanked by the Mayor and her Deputy. I always accuse them of being Prince Albert though they are definitely not married to each other, so I am being dim.

Those are the Labour ones with a few Tories skulking at the other end of the room. Haven't seen the official photos yet so don't be too disappointed - it will come sometime.

On Tuesday I had an online meeting about the latest version of propping up the dodgy supports of the M4 at the expense of everyone in Brentford and those who use the road.

Many of you will have had this letter from the contractors.

That will tell you more but in summary, one lane will be closed on the A4 between Boston Manor and Ealing Road for most of the rest of this year, and the whole caboodle will be closed overnight. Worse for us Brentonians is that the Windmill Road crossing will be closed throughout, though a pedestrian crossing will remain. The engineer remarked that they will be coming back every 2 years ensuring misery is not neglected.

When I had the Great West Road session a couple of weeks ago, we were asked for our dream for the GWR in 100 years. I said, the M4 has disappeared, because it has been put in a tunnel. It will be a massive thing to do that, but in reality the engineers are clearly quietly worried that the structure will not survive and for that to happen without a plan would be a catastrophe for the economy and all of West London (at least). I seriously believe we should be getting that on the agenda. After all, it was not long ago that the Department for Transport had a plan to put a lot of it in a tunnel between Junction 3 (the A312 in Cranford/Southall) and Junction 2 (our treasured ramps). If someone suggested building this now, they would be sent packing.

Now then, the popular ITV series Trigger Point is due to film at Boston Manor Park, specifically under the flyover, on the 27th June between 7am and 7pm. They will have a cast and crew of approx 60 people. This is what the Film people say though I confess I have never heard of the 'popular Trigger Point' and I hope pulling the trigger does not involve any animals, human or other, being harmed in making the film (or watching whatever it is!)

The caravans were there a couple of days ago and that one does or will contain Lana, who I imagine is someone of the female persuasion.

OK, I looked it up and it is Vicky McClure.

Those of us in the know are well aware she is really DC Kate Fleming from Line of Duty so she must have gone under cover.

Well that's it, really, but should note that my colleague Sukhbir Dhaliwal has passed away. I met him when he was elected in a by-election a few years ago, but he had been a councillor before. He was always courteous and a very valued colleague and I'm sorry he has passed.

Councillor Guy Lambert