What is the World Coming To?

Chiswick Homefields councillor Gerald McGregor reports back

Cllr Gerald McGregor

October 5, 2025

From peace to war

As a schoolboy I was privileged to attend a notable Grammar School in North-West London having scraped through 11Plus entry. The social mix was extraordinary for the times with a third of the school coming from the local Jewish neighbourhood community. This group provided dedicated attention to Opportunity and Intelligence, and proving intellectual clout through our university record of Oxford and Cambridge entry, all of which raised standards of learning and teaching.

My oldest friend, who was from that community and my long standing school mate, was himself a refugee from Hungary. I felt great sorry and pain from the outrage in Manchester and I note it by including two fine tributes by leading politicians in our Borough.

 “Statement on the Outrage by Councillor Peter Thompson, Councillor for Chiswick Riverside Ward, leader of the opposition”:

We are all shocked and deeply saddened by the appalling attacks in Manchester today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those affected.

This attack, coming on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a day of prayer, reflection, and reconciliation, is particularly shocking and cruel. We stand in full solidarity with the Jewish community in Manchester, here in Hounslow, and across the country.

Such an assault on people at prayer is an assault on all of us. We utterly condemn this act of hatred and reaffirm our commitment to defending the right of every community to worship in peace and security.

We also pay tribute to the emergency services and first responders who acted with such courage and professionalism.

In Hounslow, we will continue to work closely with our Jewish community, with other faith and community leaders, and with the police to ensure that everyone feels safe and supported.

Now more than ever, we must stand together against hatred and division.

These sentiments are widely shared in the Conservative party nationally and of course locally.

Hounslow Council Leader, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, issued a statement following the attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Greater Manchester:

I am shocked and saddened to hear about the appalling incident that took place at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Greater Manchester today. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this horrific violence and the Jewish community here in Hounslow.  

On Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish Calendar, we stand together with our Jewish neighbours and offer our condolences and compassion to them.  

I am incredibly proud to lead a borough as diverse as Hounslow: our strength lies in the fact that we live, work and grow side by side, with respect, understanding and unity. 

I want to reassure everyone who lives, works or studies in Hounslow that we stand firmly against hatred, racism and division. “

From National Commitment to Local reality in Hounslow: A malaise? Or a talking point?

Total strangers are talking to each other on public transport, sharing views about strikes, the difficulty of living in inflationary times, the hidden casual racism that people experience in their general life and employment and the weight of emotional concerns signifying an attitude of being generally fed up.

A recent experience of a local bus ride, interrupted by road works controlled by temporary lights at a diversion (but with no construction staff to be seen), led to people who were standing for their journey actually pleading with the operator to let them off to avoid any further pain.

The commentaries became acidic very quickly. The lack of prior information about the dislocated journey was taken up by passengers.

What are we now facing at all levels of Government?

The Worrying Result: Further Downward Trending opinions

People now appear to have lost faith in politicians of all stripes, and the United Kingdom is close to following the patterns of the United States of America with a degree of political paralysis, internal point scoring and infighting, economic floundering and loss of relationships with other different communities; appointments to office being poorly managed; social stress created at all levels; continuing conflict encouraged by unprincipled extremists at national level of both left and right who want to get power and authority and looking to the sharing out of the spoils (as if public funds are held not in trust but to be pillaged); the rule of law being flouted and administrative discipline being fouled by the constant attempts to gain from private deals and influence behind the scenes.

Local reality in Hounslow

Concerns Raised Over Chiswick Village Rooftop Development and Building Safety

Local councillor Gabriella Giles (Chiswick Riverside) known for her diligence and attention to detail, has raised urgent concerns about rooftop developments at Chiswick Village following multiple resident complaints and two public meetings held in recent weeks.

In 2015, planning permission was granted on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate for 15 two-bedroom penthouses to be constructed on top of existing blocks across Chiswick Village, despite initial refusal by Hounslow Council.

With construction now underway, residents have expressed fears that the additional storeys could change the safety classification of some blocks under the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Higher-Risk Buildings Regulations 2023. Several buildings will now be classed as seven storeys, triggering new obligations for developers and regulators.

Cllr Giles said, “The Grenfell Tower fire, just three miles from Chiswick Village, highlighted the catastrophic consequences of poor regulation and lack of communication. Residents here are understandably worried about whether lessons have really been learned.”

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry, published 12 months ago, identified significant failures in safety oversight. Nationally, the Building Safety Regulator has so far only allowed work to begin on two of the 130 approved high-risk sites across England.

Cllr Giles added, “What is deeply concerning is that construction has begun at Chiswick Village without clear communication to residents, the local authority, or even the management company. At Grenfell, the lack of proper engagement with residents was a major factor in the tragedy. We cannot repeat those mistakes.”

Residents attending meetings and writing to councillors have raised a number of worries. These include very short notice before construction began, disruption expected to last years, uncertainty over whether the Building Safety Regulator has approved the works, concerns about insurance and compliance with updated regulations, and frustration that resident voices appear to have been disregarded in favour of private development.

Cllr Giles confirmed she will continue to push for answers, “I am seeking urgent assurances that the developer has complied with current building safety requirements, that the site is registered with the Building Safety Regulator, and that residents’ concerns are addressed swiftly. No one should be made to feel unsafe in their own home.”

More than 280 residents live at Chiswick Village, which is managed by Chiswick Village Residents Limited, the Landlord and Freeholder of Chiswick Village. The Board of Directors is made up of volunteer residents.  They have contracted Michael Richards and Co. as Managing Agents.

DEMOCRACY: MORE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Council Meetings - Borough Council

• Tuesday 25 November

Including the first call on the Medium Term Financial Report for the Annual Budget 2025/26

Then a lengthy gap (why?) until:

• Tuesday 10 March

Including the Annual Budget 2025/26 and Council Tax setting for the Borough and to add the Mayor of London’s tax demand to bills to residents

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

Chiswick Area Forum Meeting, Monday 13 October

Meeting venue: St Michael & All Angels Church Bath Road, Chiswick, W4 1LW next to Turnham Green Station (100 yards)

The following items are included on the agenda:

Council Meetings – Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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

27 November 7.00pm

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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