My Twin Obsessions - Old Cars and Flytipping Extortion

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert

November 13, 2025

I might be getting obsessed with two things - old cars and council extortion about alleged flytipping.

I will try to get these out of the way first so perhaps we can get on to something of more interest (or not, according to taste). If that's your preference you can skip what Private Eye describe as Page 94, but on this occasion is on page 1.

On Friday I drove up to Brummagem to the NEC for the Classic Car Show. I decided to go on Friday on the basis that was likely to be the quieter day because lots of people would be working. As it turns out I was one of the youngsters on Friday. Apparently, you need to be decrepit and, reading one of the mags, they are alarmed that we will soon all peg out. Anyway, it was packed, the travel was no great fun, and I observed I could get a Lizzy line from Ealing and would get there in much the same time. I very rarely drive within London, but I need to re-educate myself about outside London.

I got there anyway. This car is a Triumph Roadster (think Bergerac) but the Dicky seat made me think of my father and Uncle Norman, his brother-in-law. They lived in Liverpool and frequently went through the new-fangled Mersey Tunnel (then I think the longest road tunnel in the world). In those days the surface was steel and dangerous when wet (especially on a motorbike) but was also charged at (the numbers may be wrong) 1 shilling for a car and one penny for a passenger. They were poor and skinflints and they used to stow smaller Norman under the lid on the Dicky seat to save the penny. How they paid a penny saved is lost in history. For clarity, they did not use a Triumph roadster and that rather gorgeous female (who lacks legs) is not the late Uncle Norman.

My father was a Ford and BMC dealer but the cars we used were out of the stock and I had at least 2 South of France trips on holiday in a Vauxhall Cresta PB Like this, except ours was black with a yellow roof. 3 in the front and 3 in the back for 1000 miles down to Bandol in France. A big roof rack and a speedboat on a trailer behind, full of food, pans and toilet rolls. Glamour.

I was taken with Olivia, the legendary Skoda convertible which generated a joke at the time (what do you call a Skoda convertible?) which means the notice is needed.

Enough. Lots of cars, lots of pensioners, a very naughty hot dog then home, James, after as usual I forgot exactly where my car was parked leading to a forlorn search for a few minutes. Train next time!

One obsession out of the way. Obsession 2 - extortion by the council I represent. I have talked about a couple of these ridiculous fines before, but 3 things have happened this week. I talked to the third local victim - sorry I mean horrible criminal. She had picked up some medication from her place of work and walked home to the boat where she lives. On the way she passes the notorious place next to O'Riordan's pub where another criminal was caught. Having extracted her medication from the cardboard box it arrived in she put the remains of the box in - or rather on, as usual it was overflowing - the cardboard recycling bin related to her residence. Aha " we'll run her in" £1000.

I wonder why she could not get it to stay in the bin provided for her cardboard. Photo from Friday, with collection due the next Monday.

Today somebody sent me a clip from the Times but I also found it on the BBC (it is everywhere getting Hounslow a good name.) .

In case you don't follow the link, the headline is Woman fined £1k for 'fly-tipping envelope'

Third point is the Cabinet lining up to say how correct this oppressive approach is and is exactly what's wanted. Nigel Farage and Donald Trump would be proud of them. Picked up also by BrentfordTW8.com plus Brentford TV and Today. I am so glad I resigned from the cabinet, though I would never have defended this utterly ineffective and oppressive policy.

Ranting over.

When I got back on Friday evening it was Steam Museum - they were firing up one of the very big pumps for the benefit for those of us who are members and/or contributed to their appeal.

It was pretty impressive.

I wanted to add a video but the tech defeats me.

Anyway, that enormous engine was keeping good water board water in their taps 100 years+ ago. Now I suppose Thames Water have their machines putting - erm - water in our taps.

I was back there on Saturday for the public event. As well as fab steam engines the workshops were open. Good to talk to them. These workshops and their people are what’s make Brentford a place to be proud of, and we must nurture them.

There was also a stray ex-councillor who will stand again next year in Chiswick.

Michael Denniss engine driver

Mike Denniss is a good man, even if a rotten Tory. He is not, however an engine driver, unlike my former Labour comrade Ed Mayne.

The fireworks would be a lot better if I knew how to add a video.

Sunday was busy. I had to buy the wreath I had ordered on behalf of the Green Party and then put on my best suit (a very rare privilege for onlookers) and lay the wreath.

It was lovely to see The Melvinator out and about and the reminder of a what a good singer he is, singing the first verse of the National Anthem. It was very well attended and I was pleased to see Windmill Road closed for a short time, which had not been allowed in recent years.

After the remembrance service I was back into civvies to go to a Green party session in White City. A pleasant ride and a good talk with Greenies who are very welcoming and the session, which is about our approach to campaigning, was helpful.

I was irritated on walking home that the traffic lights and road blocks were still there outside where I live. Work was finished, but this car, which is not taxed was still illegally parked there (and was until at least Tuesday, often with a chap in Hi-vis sitting in it). Thankfully the traffic lights and car have disappeared today, but I doubt that DVLA actioned my report from Sunday of an untaxed vehicle. The council can't deal with this, which given what I say further up is probably a mercy - though I have almost always found parking enforcement fair.

A quiet week after that, until a session on Wednesday meeting for a preview of the planning applications for the Police Station and the Watermans building - plus a brief update on Charlton House. The main session is today at the Armenian centre, formerly Princess Royal (I think she didn't have to change her name to Anne Mountbatten-Windsor) on Ealing Road where the developers/council/etc will present the proposals. I don't have big issues with what is being proposed, given it is many years since the original proposal was approved in 2020, reflecting design work done in 2017/8. The world has moved on: regulations require better escape routes (mainly second stairways); we now have another cinema in Brentford; the economics of the development were always very challenging, and we have had several years of negative impacts on viable development - Brexit, interest rates, delays called by the public enquiry which only achieved delay and extra cost, weak housing market.

Of course, what is proposed will be controversial but for me, getting that terrible eyesore the police station 'dealt with' is a big win, together with a yet to be finalised replacement for Watermans to be provided. I am a bit concerned that this is properly thought through, but I am assured there has been extensive design work dome with people who understand that topic, and in due course there will be discussions with potential operators, including the Watermans charity.

That's it for today. I'll be off to the Armenian centre soon and would love to meet some locals!

Councillor Guy Lambert