From Mussolini to Milk Theft: Just Another Week in Chiswick

Chiswick Riverside councillor Peter Thompson reports back

Cllr Peter Thompson
Cllr Peter Thompson

Participate

From the Post Office to Posting Plastics - a Humdinger of a Week

VE Day Celebrations and Keeping Things Local

A Planning Meeting, Street Markets and a Personal Health Update

Faith, Community and Local Action

SoGA, Idling Diesel Trains and Disappearing Road Signs

How to Access Support in Adult Social Care in Hounslow

Sign up for our weekly Chiswick newsletter

Comment on this story on the

June 1, 2025

Reopening Chiswick Post Office Shouldn’t Take This Long

Like many of you, I’ve been frustrated, and frankly baffled, by the ongoing closure of Chiswick Post Office. It’s now been weeks since the doors shut, with no public explanation, no confirmed reopening date and a growing sense that our community is being left in the dark.

This isn’t just about missed parcels. It’s about elderly residents who now struggle to access essential services. It’s about small businesses who rely on that counter. And it’s about basic fairness. Chiswick is a major town centre and we deserve a working post office.

Thousands of people have signed our petition and we know that number will keep rising. That’s why my fellow Conservative councillors and I have called for an urgent meeting with Post Office HQ. We’ve also put forward a practical proposal: allowing the postmaster to share the space with another business, which would help cover the rent and keep the service viable.

Over the weekend, Conservative activists were out blitzing Chiswick with leaflets to raise awareness of the campaign. We’re determined to make sure residents’ voices are heard loud and clear.

This should be a no-brainer. We’ve tried to be constructive. We just want to see urgency, clarity, and above all, action. Because when a service is this important to a community, silence isn’t good enough.

If you haven’t yet signed our petition, please follow this link.

Planning Reform: Why I’m Torn

As a councillor I’ve spent many hours of my life at Chiswick Town Hall and the old Civic Centre debating kitchen extensions, loft conversions and small developments. These might seem minor, but they matter to neighbours. That’s why I’ve always believed elected representatives should have a say in shaping local communities.

So I’m torn about the government’s new plans to sideline councillors from most planning decisions.

Under proposals out this week, applications from homeowners and developments of up to nine homes will bypass planning committees entirely. In London, that could rise to 50 homes. Even larger schemes will only be considered by councillors if the chair and chief officer both agree.

The goal is to speed up housing delivery. Planning delays are frustrating and officers can competently handle straightforward cases. With the housing crisis worsening, something has to change.

But local democracy matters. Planning isn’t just technical, it’s personal. Residents feel heard when councillors listen and act. Taking that away could erode trust and reduce accountability. Officers don’t answer to the public. Councillors do.

Ultimately, I think this reform needs careful balancing. I see the merit in making the system faster and more predictable. However, I also believe that there should always be space for democratic input when developments affect people’s everyday lives.

So yes, I’m torn. But I’ll keep speaking up for transparency, fairness, and the voices of local people, wherever that line is drawn.

Why Councillors in the Same Party Don’t Always Agree

I’ve noticed that some residents find it surprising when councillors from the same political party take different views on local issues. Some are quick to label it as division and see it as an opportunity to score political points.  You are a team, elected on a shared manifesto, surely you should all think and vote same way? 

Well no,  local government isn’t quite that simple and that’s a good thing.

As councillors, our first responsibility is to the people who elected us. That means listening to our communities.  If some residents are angry about - insert local issue - it’s only right their councillor reflects that even if their colleagues support the same policy.

In the Conservative Group, very few votes are “whipped”. On many local matters, planning decisions, parking rules and community projects, we are free to vote according to our judgement and the needs of their ward.

So, if you see councillors from the same party voting differently or arguing their case, don’t be alarmed. It’s not division. It’s democracy in action.

Who Steals Milk from Children?

Walking down Chiswick High Road this week it was upsetting to see this little poster fasten to a bollard and realise that kind of behaviour happening in our community. Stealing milk from a children's nursery isn’t just petty crime, it’s shameless and heartless. Nurseries like Fairyland do vital work for local families, and they shouldn't have to deal with this kind of repeated theft.

If anyone has information about this individual, please contact the nursery or the police. Chiswick Gunnersbury Councillors Jo and Ron have already raised this with the local police team to ensure extra attention is given to this case and to increase patrols in the area.

This incident is a reminder of how important it is to look out for one another, especially the youngest members of our community.

From Mussolini to the Council Chamber: When History Repeats (Sort of)

It’s been a week of political drama here in Chiswick, one that, oddly enough, mirrors my attempts to help my daughter with her A Level history revision a little too well.

Events brought to mind the Italian liberal era’s favourite pastime before Mussolini took over: trasformismo, the fine art of switching sides when it suits you, dressed up as statesmanship. Just like Giolitti's deputies, it seems some councillors are keen to keep a foot in every camp, minus the opera and the moustaches.

From Germany, there’s the unfortunate parallel with the “stab in the back” myth. Some residents are already murmuring that recent events feels like a betrayal of the local Conservative vote, though, thankfully, no one’s blaming communists, yet.

And then there are the Tudors. Henry VII faced plenty of rebellions, but at least his opponents had the decency to carry banners and pitch up in battle. These days, all it takes is a choreographed stunt at Borough Council,  a press release and a well-timed photo with the Leader of the Council.

In all seriousness, defections are part of politics. But as someone revising the chaos of Weimar, the opportunism of liberal Italy and the rebellions of 16th-century England, I can’t help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu.

Cllr Peter Thompson

peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk

07977 395810  

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2025

Anyone can attend public meetings of the council at Hounslow House which is fully accessible. Most meetings take place on the 6th floor of Hounslow House which is at 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB.

Council Meetings - Borough Council

There is public access for these meetings via a direct lift from the ground floor to the Council Meeting Room

6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

Council Meetings – Audit and Governance Committee

6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

Important Current Local Issues

During weekends and regular Public Holidays, residents can still access council services on-line or via emergency numbers:

To inform the council of an emergency, please call 020 8583 2222

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).

Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery). 

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS

Chiswick Gunnersbury ward

Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446

Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956

Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887

Chiswick Homefields ward

Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017

Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821

Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651

Chiswick Riverside ward

Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823

Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810  

Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More

This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism.

Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets.

We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more.

However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do.

We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area.

A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site.

One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute.

If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor.

For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site.