Here Be Dragons

Eco village open weekend

An open weekend is planned for 20/21 June at Kew Eco Village, talks and music, all welcome.

Good opportunity for Green Dragon Lane to get to know what’s happening next door.

Eco Village coverage on BBC London News

News report shown on BBC London News today.

Eco-village-community-gardeners-enviromental-squatters update

The eco village can now be found on Twitter. Watch a video of the first day here and check out their facebook page here.

Eco-squatters Occupy Kew Bridge Development Site

On Saturday 6th June eco-activists inspired by “the land is ours” campaign (website here) through the yahoo group “diggers350″ (link here)  began occupying the Kew Bridge/Kew Bridge Road development site with the intention of setting up an “eco-village”. For downloadable pdf containing photographs of the occupation click here.

Are they going to be a nuisance?

Their manifesto claims:

“To be ecologically friendly we need to work in harmony with our environment, this means people as well as nature! Without your support and blessing this cannot be a reality. We are aware that we’re within earshot of people’s homes and so have banned amplified music and other noisy activities, we have also adopted a strict policy against people getting drunk on the site”

Contact numbers for the squatters are out of hours on: 07967 864370 Carolyn on: 01727 812369 or Gareth on: 07515 166011

Email: diggers360@yahoo.co.uk

MenWithBalls…

Bloody football.

Up to second in Times Fantasy Football League and playing opportunities running out.

So near…

Gordon Must Go

The petition for Gordon Brown to resign is now the number 1 petition on the Number10.gov.uk website with 28,623  votes so far and counting.

Add your vote here

The Big Lunch

What is the Big Lunch?

“Basically, it’s a party in your street, in everyone’s street. On 19th July we’re asking the people of Britain to stop what they’re doing and sit down to lunch together. Why? Well for lots of reasons really but mainly just cos we think it’ll be fun.”

Visit the Big Lunch website here

Bus & Tram Fare Discount Update

A visit this morning to Hounslow Jobcentreplus and as always a revelatory experience. “Go away” the bouncers(yep – they have bouncers!) said, “no signing on today due to office re-organisation, you will be paid on your usual day(wish I could rely on that but having experienced failure to pay twice this year already I am not confident)”. Would have saved me a couple of hours in time and a couple of quid in fares if they could have been bothered to ring me beforehand.

On enquiring as to the availability of an application form for the Bus & Tram fare discount, which is being extended to those in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance for over thirteen weeks by the London Mayor, I am met with a blank stare. “We only have forms for those on Income Support” I am told. The floor manager very kindly offers to telephone Glasgow Benefits Centre on my behalf to make enquiries and bingo, they are aware of this and will send me a letter which should enable the Post Office to issue me with the appropriate Photocard.

I wonder why information on this scheme is so hard to come by, why don’t they make it easy for people to enjoy this excellent provision.

Cunning Ploy by John Thompson & Partners

Seemingly with the cooperation of Hounslow Council, jT have submitted a revised planning application for the Kew Bridge site the only difference being that the number of residential units is reduced from 170 to 164.

Could it be that the real reason for this amended application is that all objections to the original application of 19 June 2008 will no longer be considered for the superficially amended application and consequently all those who objected will have to do so again within 21 days of 19th March 2009 if they wish their voice to be heard?

Is this a ploy designed to reduce the amounts of compensation which may be payable to those most affected by this development?

What part are Hounslow Council Planning Department playing in this?

Jobcentreplus Tell Porkies

On my next visit to Jobcentreplus in Hounslow I decided to revisit the travel expense situation based on my research having failed to uncover any evidence of this change in policy and requested a referral to a manager. Suddenly a travel expense form materialises for my signature and payment is promptly made.

No doubt about it – I was told a barefaced lie by my personal adviser.

The lesson to be learned? Don’t beleive anything jobcentreplus tells you without first checking the veracity from an independent source.