The Creative Mile, Opening Up The Thames Path and the Joy of Independence

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Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert reports back

Brentford West councillor Guy Lambert

September 5, 2025

Getting back to the discussion about Paradise in The City I am pleased I now have a date for an initial meeting with officers and the cabinet member Salman Shaheen about what is to be done about Junction 2 and Paradise in the City. This is set for the 10th of September and is just me and the officers and according to how that goes I will feedback to the local representatives. I hope we will get to an agreed way forward - time will tell!

On Friday I had been invited to a session in the Middlesex CCC women's headquarters in the former GSK sports ground off Swyncombe Avenue. But this is cricket, and it is the end of a very dry summer. And it really was the end because it bucketed it down and in the traditional manner rain stopped play.

I had also pencilled in another meeting at Lambert Lodge about the heat problems there, but my main contact said he had had useful feedback from officers and I was not necessary.

Oh, almost forgot to mention the opening ceremony for the Creative Mile, that I was delighted to attend on Friday evening at the Musical Museum. Lots of people there including our newish Mayor, Amy. It was good to see the Museum busy and I felt some pride to see Creative Mile build its prestige and scope. Of course, I do not deserve much pride - it is run entirely by volunteers - but I have supported it from the first year when it was getting little support from the council and I suppose giving some encouragement might have helped in the early days. Whatever, we have two important events in the centre of Brentford - this and the Canal Festival - and they really put this bus stop in Hounslow firmly on the map.

So, time for the weekend. My surgery in the library was Saturday morning and I hoped it would have the traditional flood of residents looking for a councillor to blame/look to for help. But on that subject, the rain had not appeared: there was no flood and indeed there was a complete drought. I sat there for an hour twiddling my fingers and pretending to catch up on other stuff.

On the way out there was a young woman in the lobby who turned out to be Polish, and setting up a display for the Creative Mile.

The messages on the boards were heart-warming. I was prompted to mention to her that I too was an immigrant to Brentford, having taken the arduous journey from the Wirral. I don't have grandchildren (at least yet) and have not had the opportunity to teach them the Scouse language. In any case my daughter being a genuine Londoner meets any Scousisms with haughty contempt. A lovely piece of the Creative Mile experience and I celebrate the way our diverse town welcomes people from everywhere. It is the town's secret weapon.

Next date was in Hayes. A friend of mine had agreed to join me in a visit to the celebrations for the Indian Independence Day. If I have been invited there before I had not attended. We decided to drive there because neither of us fancied cycling (our normal mode of transport) so far and into the uncharted areas of Hillingdon without armed guards. We know London is lawless because Nigel Farage and Robert Jenrick tell us every day: we have seen no evidence of that in Hounslow (or Ealing or Hammersmith or Richmond etc) so we assumed Hayes was full of cutthroats.

Didn't see any cutthroats and I think these fellows in white uniforms were banging across each other with sticks (sticks to sticks - don't be alarmed). It was reminiscent of Morris Dancing but done with great enthusiasm and was clearly fun for the fighters as well as the rest of us.

I was very impressed by how many people were there and there were loads of stands, many of them giving away lovely food. We had a good look around and then departed for our next destination.

Our next stop was at Bell Square, where we had spotted a creative open air dance programme. Beautiful and talented young dancers from France (I think!) giving an acrobatic and so graceful short performance.

Lovely, and fuelled by lovely cheap street food from an old shop now reopened as Hounslow Market and offering an amazing variety of food from India, China and many others, always buzzing and a real attraction in the heart of Hounslow High St (and very near Bell Square and the council office!)

Then home and resting for tomorrow when I would tackle the Creative Mile more fully. I actually started Sunday by walking/cycling the river/canalside path. One of my pledges in the previous administration was to work for a step free path from Kew Bridge to Brentford Bridge. I knew we had failed to deliver that, other than opening up the arch under Kew Bridge.

If the redevelopment of Watermans/Watermans Park building proceeds (new planning applications are now lodged) the obvious next step is to deal with Smith Hill, the rather horrible abandoned slipway at the southern end of Ealing Road. (Who was Smith?) I remembered the more difficult bit was from The Ham to the bridge and as far as I know there is neither a solution or even a plan, so I took a look at that to get myself updated. First thing(ish) I saw was this captivating still life.

The first bit from The Ham is full of rubbish, overgrown foliage, graffiti, awkward steps and general mess, and that is even before you encounter the place where you can only continue by using a ladder.

Also, I wanted to look at the new Goddards self-storage facility on the bank of the canal. This was the only planning meeting I remember where I was a minority of one. I thought it was a terrible waste of a potentially nice site, but planning liked it because it would provide employment. I remember enquiring about the employment and was told 1 person part time. My fellow councillors were convinced and I was spitting feathers whilst the application was approved.

The reality of this warehouse is even more offensive to the eye that I had feared. Of course, I am not a celebrated architect so my opinion doesn't really count but I doubt Wren would be proud of it.

They are supposed to be improving the landscaping. I feel this is probably not yet completed but that too would not impress Capability Brown.

Enough of that whining. It was time to visit the Creative Mile. I popped into the Gallery which has been planning to move into our new council block. I had spoken to the proprietor before and asked her for progress. None - we have abandoned that idea because we could not deal effectively with the council (she was less diplomatic) so we are looking for other options - none at present. I observed her gallery was often closed. She said that was because there was no footfall because there is nothing else really on the High Street. I now hear that of the 12 units in 'Tintern House' which I was told were committed to by 11 eager tenants (many of them secret) had now become: 3 Leases completed; 3 awaiting fit out proposals; 1 being agreed; 5 being marketed by estate agents (I spotted the signs a few weeks ago and they are now coming on to their website: well, 3 of them are there, together with 5 in Ballymore and 8 at the former Heidelberg site).

Next stop was the marketplace where there was an exciting partnership being introduced. There is a partnership between Creative Mile and the National Gallery, which feels like a real win. It is Van Gogh flavoured (Vincent spent some 6 months or so as a teaching assistant in Isleworth)

It always puzzles me that we don't make more of JMW Turner, who lived with his butcher uncle in Brentford, near (or perhaps inside) where The Weir is now and went to school here and began his artistic activities in Brentford

It was lovely to see this, but it was very vexing that aural communication was nearly impossible because the contractors doing some street digging were using a cacophonous pneumatic drill whilst I was there. A lot of people in Brentford are very upset about the noise and disruption as a result of this work, but for me it really spoiled my early moments on the Creative Mile. I proceeded along the High Street, and down to a very crowded Johnson's Island and its hive of artists.

On the way down I took a look into the Everyman Cinema. I had actually never set foot in there, which is ridiculous. The people were very welcoming and encouraged me to look at the short film that was running Creatives by the Working River. It was very captivating. I would love to see it again and check out some of the star artists but can't find a good link. Anyone help?

Then I went to Watermans Park building, now bedecked with signs for Studio Flox and packed with a lot of artists and makers. I loved this and spent a while there. I think this was specially for me, but a bit too outsized for my head.

This was from Hounslow Seniors Trust. Sadly I am far too young to qualify but they run lots of lovely sessions for the older people!

I was a bit arted out than and missed some of the many attractions but it was a lovely day and weekend altogether.

Not many meetings this week though plenty of mail etc to keep me interested. As an Independent I have been courted by the Independent group at the Local Government Association. Mostly my reaction has been NO, I am done with groups of councillors: the main benefit of being an Independent (believe me, there are downsides too) is not having to go to Group Meetings. However, they were looking for people to serve on specialised panels and I sent in an application to join the Improvement Committee. I know it is most unnecessary for me but even I am not perfect and I thought I could help those who are far from it. Rather to my amazement I got the gig, together with about 25 other luminaries. Even more amazing, it turns out I am due for a Premiership-style allowance (ie pay) of no less than £3290 (award pending). I discovered today that Cllr Rajawat is on the same committee, which may have its problems (for either or both of us!)

I attended an induction course today in Smith Square. This is the second time I have visited this square near the House of Commons, the first time when I supported a picket held by Educational Psychologists which was fun one morning last year I think, not least because the excellent John McDonnell turned up and spoke. Today was not so much fun and was inside, but well attended and very informative.

A lot of bald blokes and blonde ladies, apparently. I won't bore you with the details but it was nice to see enthusiasm and innovative ideas to improve what all us councillors do. It is not an easy time to be a councillor anywhere (or most other professions) but a bit of inspiration is always welcome.

Home to my flat, which now has grown some scaffolding.

Apparently my hard wood balcony decking has now been deemed a fire hazard, and is to be replaced by the original developer, which by coincidence is Fairview who are developing next door, without charge because what we have does not comply. Well, no skin off my nose as there will be no cost to us leaseholders but I have to say I'm sceptical whether this is that old saw - Health and Safety gone mad.

It has been nice this week to have a few people write to me and urge me to stand next year as an Independent, also a few people stop me in the street to say the same. I will, but I need to work out the logistics.

Councillor Guy Lambert

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