We are engaged in registering our first Asset of Community Value (ACV) in Hammersmith – the Anglesea Arms in Wingate Rd, W6.

Registration does not prevent an Asset from closing down or changing hands, but the community is informed of any proposed sale and has an opportunity to buy the Asset. Even if a purchase is not practical, registration prevents a sudden sale from under the community nose.

The owner of the Asset is informed of the registration and is thus aware of the value placed on it by local residents. If you have been a patron of the Anglesea Arms you can help register it with a supporting letter. Please contact me and see this guidance for more details.

The Council’s Email Alerts to Planning and Licensing applications are always informative. To never miss a planning application in your area, register with the Council. You specify the area you are interested in – and it’s as easy as that. In addition to receiving prompt notice of applications you can click through to the application itself, look at the documents and, if it is a small application, click on ‘Make a public comment’ and write your comments in the box provided, then receive a receipt (and your comments) in your email Inbox. If your concern is of interest to the Hammersmith Society please forward to us. We’ll be glad to respond.

Walkabout site proposal, Shepherds Bush

Following on from my previous brief report (7 November 2015), some of your Committee (with Committee Members from the Hammersmith and Fulham Historic Buildings Group) have attended two consultation meetings with the management of the Dorsett Hotel and their consultants who are designing the new scheme for this building which sits between the hotel and the O2 Empire Theatre.

Hammersmith Bridge

Work is still in preparation for the major repairs and strengthening of the bridge. The works are being sponsored by TfL but organised by engineers from our Council.

Tenders are being sought from specialist companies. The cost and time required and potential closures will depend on the responses. However, it is now likely that the works will not start before the late summer. Ian Hawthorn, the Council officer supervising the project, will keep us posted on the outcome of the tenders and the implications on programme and closures. He also confirms that the works will include the complete repainting of the bridge.

Time for a change of colour? I have mentioned this to you before but received no response . . . . !?

War Memorial in St John the Evangelist Churchyard in Glenthorne Road (Now part of Godolphin and Latymer School campus)

Rosemary Pettit reports the following good news on the dilapidated state of the War Memorial which she raised with the Council :

On 4 January, Adam O’Neill, one of the Council’s Urban Design and Conservation Officer wrote :

Last year I requested that Historic England assess the war memorial for listing, their (brief) consultation report is available using the link in the email below.

In the meantime Godolphin & Latymer School have made an application for a repairs grant to the War Memorials Trust.

Thames Water are about to announce revised plans for sites they wish to use in the construction of this project, and will be seeking further consultation. If you think your property may be affected, and you would like to comment or just find out more – visit www.thameswater.co.uk/counterscreek

Thames Water Holds New Drop-in Sessions over Storm Relief Sewer

Seeking further feedback on selection of five preferred sites

Thames Water is holding a new series of public drop-in sessions in January and February after selecting five preferred sites to construct a new storm relief sewer.

The sites are at:

• Cremorne Wharf Depot, Lots Road, Chelsea
• Land adjacent to Talgarth Road and Trevanion Road, Hammersmith
• Maclise Road car park and woodland adjacent to Kensington Olympia Station
• Holland Villas Road at its junction with Lower Addison Gardens
• The car park at Tesco Superstore, Shepherd’s Bush Road.

Thames Water says it is inviting residents in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to give their views on the updated plans to protect properties from the misery of sewer flooding.

This continues to be hot news with regular features appearing in London papers and local news bulletins. This month Rosemary Pettit’s Resident-led Commission is taking evidence.

Rosemary notes that the background and purpose of the Commission are as follows:

Hammersmith and Fulham has the eighth highest percentage of early deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide and to particulate matter air pollution in London, according to a report by King’s College London.  The report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, estimates that this contributes to the early deaths of 203 residents per year.

In response to this, Hammersmith & Fulham Council has established a resident-led Air Quality Commission to look into the problem.  The Commission will engage with external experts and local residents in examining the causes and dangers of local air pollution and propose potential solutions to help reduce it. Hammersmith resident, Rosemary Pettit, is chairing the Commission, which will run for some 6 months and report to Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Of course, this is only one of many campaigns and informatives issued by the London Forum of Civic and Amenity Societies. Therefore it is entirely appropriate that we can congratulate its Chairman, Peter Eversden for his MBE in the New Year’s Honours.

Derek Chandler, Secretary of the London Forum wrote : Peter says he is delighted to receive the recognition for his volunteering work over the past 35 years in the civic movement but considers the award is for the achievements of London Forum’s team and of its 150 community groups and individual members across London.

Peter is also chairman of the Bedford Park Society, a past trustee of the William Hogarth Trust and a member of the Mayor’s Outer London Commission since 2009. He joined London Forum as a trustee in 1996 and became its chairman in 2001. Peter has been involved in the development of the London Plan since the GLA was created and the London Forum’s 25th anniversary in 2013 was celebrated for all its members by Boris Johnson at City Hall in appreciation of the work done by community volunteers.

This briefing event took place in the Town Hall and was useful and informative. There were 34 attendees and several presentations explained the principles and showed examples where Neighbourhood Plans had either been implemented or were still going through the process.  Two separate initiatives are being pursued : Henry Peterson advises as follows :

Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum and Plan

Proposals for a neighbourhood plan for the Old Oak area continue to be developed, and the following residents groups and amenity bodies in Ealing and in Hammersmith & Fulham, are involved in current discussions.

• The Island Site Residents Association (TITRA)
• Wells House Residents Association
• Wesley Estate Residents Association
• Residents of Midland Terrace/Shaftesbury Gardens
• Residents of the Old Oak Estate
• Friends of Wormwood Scrubs
• Brickfield Association of Residents (Eynham Road area)
• Residents of Woodman Mews

Policing is another area where serious cut backs are being considered – or accurately forced on the Metropolitan Police. The H and F Safer Neighbourhood Board is chaired by David Millar, a Hammersmith Society member. They are organising two public consultation events in Hammersmith under the heading of ‘Have your say on crime, antisocial behaviour and policing where you live’ as follows :

• Tuesday 17 November : (6.30pm for 7pm start) : Newbigin Theatre, St Paul’s Centre Hammersmith Broadway W6 9SJ
• Monday 30 November : (6.30pm for 7pm start) : The Conference Room, Askew Road Church, Bassein Park Road, W12 9BH

Light refreshments will be provided : For more information contact : or call 020 8753 2816

Supported by the Mayor’s Office for Policing for London.