From the Baltics to Burlington Lane: Lessons in Freedom and Local Failure

Chiswick Riverside councillor Peter Thompson reports back

Cllr Peter Thompson

August 2, 2025

I’m writing this from the Baltic states where I’ve been taking a summer break and reflecting deeply on the hard-won freedoms, we so often take for granted at home.

Walking through the Paneriai Memorial near Vilnius where over 100,000 people, mostly Jews, were murdered during the Holocaust was profoundly moving. In Riga, the former KGB building stands grim and imposing, its cells and interrogation rooms preserved as a stark reminder of what life was like under Soviet rule. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius and the 9th Fort in Kaunas tell parallel stories of repression, surveillance and resistance under both Nazi and Soviet occupation.

What’s striking is how recent this history is. These countries only regained their independence in the 1990s. For someone involved in local democracy, it’s a humbling reminder that the freedoms we enjoy — free elections, open debate, even writing a blog like this — are precious. Here, freedom isn’t taken for granted. It’s remembered, honoured and fiercely protected. And that, perhaps, is something we can learn from.

It has made me reflect not only on the big questions of liberty and justice but also on the smaller ones, like whether local government keeps its promises, listens to its residents and follows the rules it's supposed to. We are lucky in the UK not to face the threats these nations once did. But the same principle applies; democracy only works when it’s taken seriously.

Paneriai is the site of the largest mass murder organized and executed by the Nazis in Lithuania. In 1941-1944, 50,000-70,000 people were killed in Paneriai, most of them Jews from the region of Vilnius

Hounslow Council is now officially one of the worst in the country for supporting self-build housing. Just 26 plots have been approved out of 396 requests, a shocking 7% delivery rate and according to The Times, a clear breach of a legal duty. Ten years ago, Conservative reforms gave aspiring homeowners the right to build their own homes, not just as a dream but in law. Councils were required to help people access land. It was meant to empower families and individuals to give people control over where and how they live. Hounslow has failed them.

Thankfully we were able to watch England's victory in the Euros even in the Estonian Forest!

The council has announced a long-overdue revamp of its e-bike scheme with new operators Forest and Voi set to take over from 11 August. If you’ve ever found yourself dodging e-bikes dumped across pavements or frustrated by poor enforcement, you might be thinking: finally. I welcome the fact that changes are being made. The new contracts promise bay-only parking, better enforcement, moderated speeds for new riders and more affordable pricing. But let’s be honest — this should have happened years ago.

Since 2023 I and many local residents have raised serious concerns about the way e-bikes have been managed in the borough. Too often, bikes were left blocking pavements, posing trip hazards and accessibility issues, especially for those with prams, wheelchairs or limited mobility. Enforcement was patchy at best and the council’s initial enthusiasm didn’t extend to proper oversight. The Conservative Group repeatedly called for improvements: stricter parking rules, faster response times, proper penalties for non-compliance and a rethink of the original contracts. We warned that a lack of structure would undermine public confidence in what could otherwise be a useful and sustainable form of transport. Sadly, it took a tide of resident complaints to finally get movement.

The new scheme includes lighter bike models, safety incentives, discounts for local businesses and even cargo or child-seat e-bikes on trial. These are practical and user-friendly ideas but they don’t excuse the wasted time, poor management and avoidable frustration of the last two years. Because this isn’t just about bikes. It’s about how local government works and who it listens to. Residents’ concerns were obvious and valid but ignored until things reached breaking point. That’s not how public services should function. I’ll be watching the rollout of the new scheme closely. We need transport that works for everyone, not just flashy headlines but fair, safe and sensible delivery on the ground.

State of Lime Bikes blocking pavements

Another thing that’s really stood out during my visit is how immaculately clean the Baltic states are. In city centres, residential areas, even on rural roadsides there’s virtually no litter. Verges are neatly cut, pavements are weed-free and public spaces are clearly looked after.

It’s a stark contrast to what we’re seeing back home. In Chiswick, residents are rightly calling our home the “Chiswick Jungle” with overgrown verges, weeds sprouting through pavements and an official response from the council that has been painfully slow and ineffective. With council tax bills rising year after year, residents are right to ask: where is the basic maintenance? Clean, safe streets shouldn’t be a luxury. They should be the standard.

Before I return home, one of the most controversial planning applications in recent memory will be up for decision — the 10-storey development proposed for Burlington Lane, right by the Hogarth Roundabout. I sincerely hope it’s rejected but I’m not holding my breath. Despite over 100 resident objections, serious heritage concerns and just 9% affordable housing, the council seems determined to push ahead. Once again, the scale is excessive, the design unsympathetic and the community’s voice largely ignored. Sensible alternatives have been proposed but the council appears to favour height over heritage and density over design. It’s part of a wider pattern -  one where residents are consulted after the decisions have already been made. Planning should be about place, not just numbers on a spreadsheet. I only hope common sense prevails when the final vote is taken.

I was delighted to read that W4 Youth were invited to the King’s Youth Opportunities Summit at St James’s Palace recently. Their work on knife crime prevention, inclusivity and community engagement is a credit to Chiswick and a clear example of what happens when local voices are supported and empowered.

As I’ve seen here in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, democracy isn’t something you just inherit. You have to defend it, live it and demand better from those in power. Whether it’s a planning application or a crumbling pavement, these things matter because they show whether government is working for the people it serves.

Family picture in Riga

Cllr Peter Thompson

peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk

07977 395810  

DEMOCRACY: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2025

Monday 13 October: Chiswick Area Forum - Normally at Hogarth Hall, Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Turnham, W4 4JN, but moveable around Chiswick (please check the website). Meetings are open from 6.30pm allowing residents to meet officers of Hounslow Council in Adult and Child care Social Welfare, Education, Housing and Services

Council Meetings - Borough Council

• Tuesday 16 September 7.30pm
• Tuesday 25 November  7:30 pm

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 – Overview and Scrutiny Committee

• Monday 18 September 2025 7.00pm

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

Council Meetings – Audit and Governance Committee

• Tuesday 4 November 7:00 pm

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

Anyone can attend public meetings of the council. Most meetings take place on the 6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, TW3 3EB. Hounslow House is fully accessible. The nearest tube is Hounslow Central which does not have step-free access. Parking in local roads is limited.

Emergencies

You can report emergencies outside office hours by ringing the council on: 020 8583 2222.

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the seven 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 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  

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