Hammersmith Bridge

Despite recent emergency closures, the bridge is due to be completely closed next year for a more radical overhaul and strengthening to allow double decker buses to use it again. (They were banned when there were previous structural problems).

Our understanding is that this work is likely to take six months from next summer. The works will also involve repainting (and relighting). When it was last repainted, many lamented the loss of the more decorative treatment in pastel colours by the London County Council. The replacement in what many people refer to as Harrods green came about after studies of the original paint scheme by Sir Joseph Bazalgette in 1887 and was strongly advised by English Heritage. A new lighting scheme was also installed by the Council and which won a Hammersmith Society Environment Award in 2001, but the deck lighting has proved unreliable and difficult to maintain.

The Hammersmith Society Committee feel that there is an opportunity to revisit both the colour and the lighting and that an exciting way to explore possibilities would be for an open competition : We would be happy to organise this but obviously there would need to be agreement with both the Council and TfL who are funding the main project.

Do let us know what you think!

There will be a presentation and opportunity to discuss the Council’s new proposed strategy in the Small Hall at the Town Hall on Tuesday 8th September at 7pm.

This is organised by the Economic Regeneration, Housing and the Arts Policy and Accountability Committee. For the draft strategy and full agenda for the evening, visit :

http://www.lbhf.gov.uk//Directory/Council_and_Democracy/Committee_reports_minutes_and_agendas/Committee_Archive/homepage.asp?mgpage=ieListMeetings.aspx%26amp%3BCId%3D487%26amp%3BYear%3D0

Our President, Professor Hans Haenlein has been leading a group of residents and professionals to see whether the local community could benefit from the setting up of a Neighbourhood Planning Forum. This has been made possible by the Neighbourhood and Community Rights Process which stems from the 2011 Localism Act. An introductory workshop has been organised for Saturday 3 October 2015 at St Paul’s Primary School, Worlidge Street, W6. The session will start at 10am and finish at 1pm. There will be presentations by a number of guest speakers with experience and expertise in this.

Please come along. It is open to all and especially members of the Hammersmith Society and the Fulham Society.

Register your attendance with Rosemary Pettit, Hammersmith Society Membership Secretary :

Again I reported on this in my previous News Updates. I have since attended a meeting of the Grand Union Alliance which is a grouping of the many interested groups (and individuals). Interests range from the strategic views for this whole development area to the very personal effects to which many existing residents will be subjected.

The worry is that the OPDC will just become another vehicle for large developers to promote their interests but on the other hand the possibility exists for something really amazing to come out of it. One of the major worries is that it will take between 18 months to 2 years for the OPDC to develop its Local Plan – with added consultation (Public Inquiry etc.) on top of that : In the meantime developers such as Car Giant are pushing on with their plans and have to be assessed against the Old Oak and Park Royal Opportunity Planning Area Framework (OAPF) which is supplementary planning guidance to the Mayor’s London Plan, although this is not formally adopted yet. Apparently there were 3,500 responses to the consultation on this of which 3,400 were QPR supporters. Remember QPR have no land ownership within the OPDC area at present!

As reported in my last News Update, there were consultations recently on the Car Giant proposals and for the new HS2/Crossrail Station for Old Oak Common. I thought the Car Giant proposals seem to be heading in the right direction :

Visit www.oldoakpark.co.uk

We would like to see more use being made of the canal and there is much detail to be developed before an expected planning application is submitted by the end of this year.

But the current proposals for the HS2 station are dire beyond imagination. (See attached images). The ‘photo montage’ purports to show what the new station might look like in 2041 : But there is no reference to the proposed development around the station – 24,000 new homes : 55,000 new jobs. The station looks like a massive  – well, bus shelter? – which has landed from outer space with no connections to its surroundings. And why have a whole raft of sidings for Crossrail suddenly appeared in the middle of the development area? (East of the station). Local groups including the Grand Union Alliance and Friends of Wormwood Scrubs are also rightly incensed. If this is how HS2 treat local people, it is not surprising that there is so much opposition.

The Davies Commission has now been published. Its main recommendation is in favour of a Third Runway at Heathrow, but does not rule out the possibility of a Second Runway at Gatwick.

Read the full report

Unsurprisingly the recommendation for Heathrow in particular has prompted a torrent of articles and commentaries. Below are some of the places where these can be found :

• www.londonforum.org.uk
• hacan.org.uk

Other sources include the regular blog from Andy Slaughter MP, the Chiswick W4 newsletter and many others.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council commissioned its own resident led report earlier this year – as previously reported.  Our Vice Chairman (and former Chair) Melanie Whitlock was one of the members of the panel.
The report and update comments can be seen at :
www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News/Hot_topic_Heathrow.asp

Reminder from Rosemary’s last newsletter : There is a suggestion from the Council that registering the building as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) would provide an additional level of protection. Rosemary Pettit is currently assembling this application.

If you can support this campaign, please contact her at

Counters Creek Storm Relief Sewer

It seems that Thames Water are causing quite a storm of their own with their high handed approach to selecting sites for these works. No-one denies the need for this project designed to reduce the risk of properties being flooded by sewage.

My office has been flooded twice and I know from personal experience how awful it is. It must be much worse if it is your home. See what Andy Slaughter has been saying on the subject in his current blog.

Please tell us how you think the Hammersmith Society can assist with this problem.