Good News on the Post Office and the Irish President Visits

Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

The Irish President Catherine Connolly at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith

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May 23, 2026

Some good news about Chiswick Post Office this week after lots of speculation and rumour over the new site. I have been working with Post Office Ltd for the past year to try and resolve the longstanding issues, and I think a proper conclusion may now have been reached.

As many in Chiswick will know, the current post office in Heathfield Terrace is temporary and there has been an ongoing search for appropriate premises for a new permanent post office.

After meetings with Post Office Ltd this week, there new offer is for the post office to be inside Robert Dyas on Chiswick High Road. I think this is a good location and a secure site, and residents can have their say through the consultation launched on Friday. I’m grateful to Hounslow Council for their support with the campaign for Chiswick Post Office.

Earlier this week I visited the Irish Cultural Centre to meet Irish President, Catherine Connolly, on her first official visit to the UK. It was a wonderful event, and the President was delighted by the high quality of music and dance on show. The Irish Cultural Centre is one of the premier locations for Irish Culture in the UK and we are very lucky to have it in Hammersmith.

To mark the end of a successful mayoral year Cllr Amy Croft held a thank you party in the Kitchen Garden at Chiswick House for the local charities she has supported this year. One of the charities in attendance was the Hogarth Youth and Community Centre, of which I am a patron.

Andy Slaugther at outgoing Mayor of Hounslow, Amy Croft's garden party, Ruth Cadbury MP and representatives of the Hogarth Youth and Community Centre

In justice news, there is lots happening. I spoke in the King’s Speech debate on the legislative programme for the Ministry of Justice for the next year including the changes to jury trial, the Hillsborough Bill and new laws on asylum and immigration. On family courts, I asked the Lord Chancellor a question about family mediation which is highly successful but underused. I met the Family Courts Minister Baroness Levitt to talk about a change the law for cohabiting couples, and I spoke in a debate on domestic abuse and the family courts.

The White Paper on youth justice has now been introduced, and I spoke in the debate. I also met with the Chair of the Youth Justice Board to discuss Justice Committee’s inquiry into youth custody. The Justice Committee held an evidence session on alternatives to custody, especially for women prisoners. We heard from witnesses Antony King, Managing Director for Citizens Services at Serco, and Claire Hubberstey, Chief Executive of One Small Thing.

Historic England has launched two new funds, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund and Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, that are now open for applications. The funds provide capital grants to support urgent repairs, long-term sustainability, or conservations projects for places of worship or heritage sites. Please check the Historic England website before applying to check if your project is eligible.

The House of Commons is now in Whitsun recess and will return on 1st June.

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

P.S. I send a regular email newsletter to residents about local and national issues. If you would like to receive it then please email me at andy@andyslaughter.com, click this link.

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