Image above: No tomatoes? ; empty shelves in Waitrose Chiswick High Road

Shortages in most major retailers, but not local greengrocers 

Supermarket shelves in Chiswick are starting to reflect the nationwide tomato shortage, while smaller, independent greengrocers remain largely unaffected.

The British Retail Consortium, which represents all the major supermarkets, says the supply issues are industry wide. It says difficult weather in southern Europe and northern Africa disrupted the harvests of a range of crops, including tomatoes, peppers and aubergines which has, in some instances, quadrupled their wholesale price.

In the winter months the UK imports around 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuces, most of them from Spain and north Africa. The shortages and rationing of selected salad items at some supermarkets, including Asda and Morrisons, involves several factors, including the climate crisis, energy prices and Brexit. While the poor weather over winter has been the key factor, the fragility of the modern supply chain is also largely to blame.

Farmers say supermarkets face problems because industrial-scale growers cannot fulfil their contracts, whereas greengrocers and fruit and veg stalls are better placed to deal with shortages, because they order from individual farms and local wholesalers directly.

On Monday (27 February), I visited Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Co-op, Tesco and M&S as well as some of Chiswick’s smaller fruit and veg retailers to see how they’re coping with the reported national produce shortages.

Images above: Fruit and veg at Charlie’s Fruit Bowl stalls, tomatoes on display at Colin’s of Chiswick

“What shortages?” say High Road greengrocers Collins

All three independent greengrocer stalls along Chiswick High Road appeared to have ample supplies of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.

I asked Kevin, who works at Colin’s of Chiswick (300 Chiswick High Road), whether he had any trouble sourcing his produce amid nationwide shortages. He said while said the price has gone up from £7-10 a box to £18-22 a box at market, there were “thousands” of boxes of tomatoes available for him to buy every morning.

Kevin attributed the rise in cost to soaring energy bills, which has delayed planting under polytunnels (plastic-covered greenhouses under which seedlings are grown) meaning supplies for supermarkets are scarce and prices rise for everyone else. He said this has been good for business, with people finding supermarket shelves empty making their way to his stall.

“We’ve been busier certainly”, he laughed, “definitely much busier”.

A man working at Charlie’s Fruit Bowl, who didn’t give his name, laughed and said “what shortages?” when I asked him the same question about his produce. He simply pointed to the vine tomatoes, mixed peppers and cucumbers on display and said wholesalers were full of produce and then continued moving boxes of vegetables around the stalls.

Images above: Lemon & Limes Turnham Green Terrace, tomato produce on shelves in Lemon & Limes

Lemon and Limes – Turnham Green Terrace

Lemons & Limes, greengrocers on Turnham Green Terrace is owned by a Turkish family, who also operate a similar store in west Hampstead.

Mel Ahsak, the General Manager, said while they still have lots of tomatoes on display their selection used to be much wider.

On their website, there are 18 different types of tomato listed, though only eight were on display on Monday morning. Mel said they have fared better than the supermarkets because supermarkets work in a different way to smaller retailers, who usually buy from farms directly like they do.

“We used to have a much bigger selection,” Mel said, “including mixed heritage cherries and lots of others. Now we have a limited selection.”

Mel said this was because prices have gone through the roof, with boxes being £13.00 – £15.00 even 12 months ago, but some boxes can reach an eye-watering £26.00 per box which they can’t afford.

Images above: Waitrose Chiswick High Rd, empty tomato and veg shelves 

Waitrose – Chiswick High Rd

A spokesperson from Waitrose said they have seen a “slightly lower” impact on their fresh produce stock than some other supermarkets because they stock items from other territories, such as Italy, which have not been impacted by poor weather. They added Waitrose’s “extensive range” has helped, with some stores stocking over 20 varieties of tomatoes.

Despite this, Waitrose in Chiswick is had the fewest tomatoes on display of the retailers visited on Monday. Cherry vine tomatoes, essential tomatoes, baby plum tomatoes, essential cherry tomatoes, red choice tomatoes, classic vine tomatoes and red, green and yellow peppers were all ‘temporarily unavailable’.

So if Waitrose is better prepared for supply chain issues, how come Chiswick’s branch is empty? Apparently, just because too many people in Chiswick shop there. Waitrose’s spokesperson told The Chiswick Calendar:

“We’ve had incredibly high demand in Chiswick – but please be assured we are working hard to get tomatoes back on shelves as soon as possible.”

Image above: Sainsbury’s Essex Place, dwindling tomato shelves 

Sainsbury’s – Essex Place

Like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s say they have no plans to implement a ration limit on their fresh produce, unlike rivals Tesco, Aldi, Morrisons and Lidl, some of which have limited customers to buying two tomatoes per person.

Shoppers seem to be taking advantage of this, because Sainsbury’s tomato shelves were largely empty by 1.00pm on Monday, including cherry, baby plumb, and large, ‘Best of British’ and pomodorino tomatoes. A handful of loose vine tomatoes remained.

Some selections had been out of stock since opening, with a yellow sign reading ‘Sorry, temporarily out of stock’ in place below empty shelf slots. Individual sweet, red, green, orange, yellow and mixed selections of peppers shelves were empty too.

Highlighting on Sunday (26 February) how this is a regular occurrence in the Chiswick store, one customer complained on Twitter:

‘Standard for Chiswick. Is it a Brexit benefit for staff that don’t have to handle any more?’ – @twitt3rvan

Images above: M&S foodhall Chiswick High Rd, tomatoes on display inside

Marks and Spencer – Chiswick High Rd

The Marks & Spencer Foodhall on Chiswick High Rd had plenty of cherry tomatoes and vine tomatoes.

M&S are one of the supermarket chains who have not placed buying limits on their produce, and they seem to have ample supplies.

A spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said the group was not immune from the supply issues, but had mitigated this by some degree by sourcing from ‘alternative growing markets’.

Images above: Tomato and veg shelves in Tesco Express, Co-op, Sainsbury’s Local

Tesco Express, Co-op, Sainsbury’s Local – Chiswick High Rd

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Roman remains and Medieval brickwork found at Brentford Project site

See also: Future of Grove Park and Strand on the Green LTNs expected to be announced this week

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Traffic officer Jefferson Nwokeoma briefs residents

LB Hounslow say they will make a decision this week on what changes, if any, they will make to the Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme that covers Grove Park and Strand on the Green.

It will be a Chief Officer’s decision, but senior transport officer Jefferson Nwokeoma says it is one he will take in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Cllr Katherine Dunne, taking into consideration also the representations of residents and ward councillors.

Some parts of the scheme, no exit to the A4 from Harvard Hill and the division of Staveley Rd have already been made permanent.

Residents have been unhappy with the scheme from the start. While the majority say they want less commuter traffic cutting through the residential area to access the A4, north / south circular and A316, many have found the restrictions confusing, divisive, badly signed and overly complicated.

Roadworks on the A4 have further complicated the issue, as the restrictions were lifted for short periods and then reinforced. There have also been penalties wrongly applied and successfully appealed.

Jefferson Nwokeoma told residents the Council was talking to Transport for London about improving the signage from the A316, as residents have reported relatives, friends and trades people being repeatedly caught out because they have not noticed the restrictions.

The Council now has a year’s data since the most recent changes were introduced, which Jefferson presented to residents on Friday 24 February. It showed the Low Traffic Neighbourhood is succeeding, Jefferson told the meeting, with traffic volumes down and air quality increased.

In January 2022 access was restricted to Staveley Rd from the A316 to general traffic Monday – Saturday from 8am – 7pm, except buses and permit holders. At the same time one side of Burlington Lane was blocked off to prevent entry from the A316.

Images above: No entry to Burlington Lane from A316

Traffic volumes down, air quality up

Traffic Volume 

The data shows a 45% decrease in the total weekday average flow of vehicles on Burlington Lane over the past four years, from 3170 vehicles in 2019 to 1750 in 2022. The trial restriction over the past year resulted in an 85% reduction in westbound vehicles and a 21% reduction in eastbound vehicles.

On Staveley Rd the traffic flow has decreased 57% from 5744 vehicles in 2019 to 2376 in 2022. The trial restriction over the past year resulted in a 54% reduction westbound vehicles and a 66% reduction in eastbound vehicles.

When they compared the average daily flow for 2021 and 2022 on the A316 and the A4 they found there had been a reduction in northbound traffic volumes on the A316 and a slight increase in westbound volumes recorded on the A4.

Image above: Map showing traffic data survey locations: red dots indicate LBH sites, blue dots indicate Transport for London Road Network sites, green dots indicate Vivacity sites

Traffic speeds

The Council has also reviewed traffic speeds in these two roads and in Sutton Court Rd, Hartington Rd and Thames Rd. Most locations showed a reduction in traffic speeds, except for on Burlington Lane, east of Staveley Rd, which showed a slight increase.

Fines

Two enforcement cameras were installed at either end of the restricted area. Jefferson told the meeting a total of 82,484 penalty charge notices had been issued between 14 February 2022 and 31 January 2023.

He said the figures shared in social media for the money this has brought into the Council were not accurate. Simply multiplying 82,484 by the maximum fine of £130 did not give an accurate figure as most people paid within 14 days, paying £65, not £130.

Enforcement was suspended on days in August, September, October, December 2022 and on one day in January 2023 due to works by Transport for London on the A4.

The trend – an initial spike in charges, gradually tailing off, is typical of what they would expect when new restrictions are introduced and people get used to them, he said.

Image above: Map showing monitoring sites for air quality: red sites used to produce an average for the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood area; blue sites for separate data on A4 and A316

Air quality

The concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was monitored at various sites within the ‘South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood’ (ie. Strand on the Green and Grove Park, south of the A4), as well as on the A316 and A4.

The concentration of NO2 recorded within the South Chiswick Liveable Neighbourhood and at the two sites on the A316 fell relative to the borough average between January 2022 and December 2022. Conversely the level of NO2 concentration recorded on the A4 notably increased relative to the borough average.

Active travel

The statistics in ‘active travel’, ie. walking and cycling, are too low to be statistically useful, as Hugh McNeil, a resident who happens who is a statistician by profession, pointed out. But they did show the trend was increasing, said Jefferson.

You can see the full data presentation here:

Click to access SCLN-Staveley_Burlington-trial-Residents-Briefing.pdf

Huge majority against making the trial access restrictions  to Staveley Rd and Burlington Rd permanent

During the most recent consultation a huge majority of residents said they were opposed to making permanent the most recent restrictions, introduced a year ago.

82% of all respondents were opposed to making the trial access restrictions to Staveley Rd from the A316 permanent. Only 10% of those who took part in the survey were in favour of making them permanent. A similar majority, 80% were opposed to making the trial no-entry to Burlington Lane from the A316 permanent. Only 9% wanted it made permanent.

Tim Munden, a committee member of the Grove Park Group of residents said this showed what a missed opportunity the scheme has been. Surveys show residents are massively in favour of there being some restrictions, but against the existing scheme.

He outlined several issues which residents raise repeatedly: access for visitors, a permit system which would enable them to visit without being fined; the scheme is too complex, with different rules governing different roads; unclear signage; concerns about speed and the scheme diverting traffic onto other roads.

Dennis Flaherty, Chair of Chiswick Horticultural & Allotments Society, said the restriction to entry to Staveley Rd had limited their activities severely. Although their 500 members were able to get permits to enter the road to get to their allotments, they also had plant sales at the weekends. Now they can only trade on three Sundays a month, as the traffic for the car boot sale at Chiswick School prevents them holding sales on the first Sunday of the month.

The Staveley Rd restrictions were originally introduced to make it a School Street, as Chiswick School is on the corner of Staveley Rd and the A316, directly opposite the entrance to the allotments. He asked for the restrictions to be implemented on weekdays only, when the school was open, as the Saturday restrictions were losing them much needed revenue, yet the school was closed.

Julia Harman wanted to know why the whole of Grove Park and Strand on the Green was not treated as one unit, bordered by the A4 at top, the river at the bottom and the north / south circular and the A316 on either side.

As a resident of St Mary’s Grove she cannot enter at Kew Bridge and drive to her home along Strand on the Green, but has instead to go up to Chiswick roundabout, along the A4 and back into Grove Park via Sutton Court Rd.

Ben Cate, a new resident who has only been here a couple of weeks said he was surprised he had to register separately for a resident’s permit and for inclusion in the scheme. Would one registration not do for both? he asked.

Once he had registered he was told he would not need to do anything further, but still he received a penalty charge notice nine days later.

“The current implementation is not working,” he said.

Image above: Chief Officer Jefferson Nwokeoma

“Just because the majority is opposed doesn’t mean we will scrap it”

Jefferson said he would make his decision about the future of the scheme on three criteria: what the data showed about how it was meeting its aims, the Council’s policy and the feedback from residents.

An indication of his thinking perhaps is that he told Tim Munden he disagreed with his comment that the scheme was too complex, and he told Dennis Flaherty:

“You cannot have traffic restrictions without there being some impact” and “Just because the majority is opposed doesn’t mean we will scrap it.”

He said his decision would be published in the week beginning 27 February.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Tube strike set for Budget day, 15 March

See also: Ruth Cadbury backs ‘Happy Valley’ neighbourhood policing plan

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Images above: Excavation photographs of human remains found at Brentford Project site (with captions); London Museum of Archaeology

Bodies date back to Roman times

The Museum of London Archaeology has uncovered human remains, Roman pots and pans and medieval brickwork at the site of the Brentford Project, the housing development being built on Brentford High Street.

In the post-excavation assessment of the site near Brentford Lock, recently published by the Museum of London Archaeology, a number of the historic finds are described in great detail and are accompanied by pictures.

The report says the Roman remains were found in earth-cut graves. There were several adult women and one young child. One of the women had been buried in a large limestone sarcophagus, while the other appears to have been partially cremated.

The burials were aligned with nearby ditch systems and are thought to have been contained within the remains of a small cemetery plot, possibly for a family of high-status.

Other discoveries included “very rudimentary” late Roman or early medieval timber buildings and/or fence structures. Medieval features were mostly confined to isolated brick fire pits and pottery. 

The excavations also found a possible prehistoric paleochannel – the remnant of an inactive river or stream channel – through the southern part of the site, although only the northern edge of the channel was exposed.

It is not the first time Roman artefacts have been found at the site. In 2021, archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology were commissioned by LB Hounslow to carry out an excavation on the site of the Brentford Project. Among the finds were two 17th century cellars with fragments of ceramic vases and whole vessels, a coin, and hearths all believed to date back to the Roman era.

READ ALSO: Roman artefacts found at site of new Brentford development

Images above: Post-Medieval brickwork fire-pit, ancient pots (with captions); London Museum of Archaeology

Brentford’s rich archaeological history

The latest discoveries in Brentford are part of a rich history of archeological findings in the area, which all act as proof that people have been living here since prehistoric times. Remains of hyena, hippo, ox, red and giant deer, bison and straight tusked elephants from the Palaeolithic period have been recovered in the past, together with flint tools.

Thomas Layton, an artefacts and antiques collector, lived in Brentford between 1826 and 1911 and served on various local bodies for about 50 years. A tankard from 150 BCE, as well as brooches and a yoke terminal from a chariot are part of the Layton Collection, which is described as ‘probably the largest collection of London antiquities ever amassed by a single individual’.

During 54 BCE Julius Caesar invaded southern England. Sir Montague Sharpe, amateur archaeologist and a member of what was then Middlesex County Council, put forward the theory that Brentford was the site where Caesar and his army crossed the river, during his second expedition to Britain. 

Caesar wrote about the banks of the Thames being fortified with rows of sharpened stakes during his invasion, and rows of sharpened stakes were discovered on the northern bank of the River Thames when it was being dredged to make Brentford Dock in the 19th Century. 

London was established as the Roman capital in 50 CE. From that point on, the main route out of London to the west ran through Brentford.

Images above: brickwork and buildings uncovered at the site (with captions); Museum of London Archaeology 

Residents react to discoveries 

Residents local to Brentford have been reacting to the discoveries on social media. Their responses have ranged from calling for a local display of the findings, to jokes about disturbing and unleashing the souls of the deceased.

Christine Stansby wrote:

‘Hope the findings go on display somewhere local, along with photos, would be great for Brentfords history’

Jo Francis added:

‘Wonder if the disturbed souls will haunt the new residents. Could be interesting!’

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: LB Hounslow branded ‘hypocrites’ for wanting ULEZ exemptions for own vehicles

See also: Chiswick House uses Shire horses to work in the Gardens

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: One of Operation Centaur’s Shire horses at work

Shire horses “make light work” of heavy gardening tasks

Shire horses will be working in the gardens of Chiswick House in the week beginning 27 February to carry out essential woodland maintenance.

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure healthy woodland. This includes felling small trees and removing scrub, which is labour-intensive for humans. Shire horses make light work of this kind of heavy gardening task and are particularly well-suited because they tread lightly in sensitive woodland areas. The horses can also access to hard-to-reach places, and using them to do the work avoids the necessity of using heavy machinery.

The horses are owned by Operation Centaur, whose horses have previously been employed by Chiswick House & Gardens Trust to cut meadows and large areas of grassland. This large-scale mowing work would have taken the gardening team a week but was completed in one and a half days by two Shire horses.

Based at Hampton Court Palace and Royal Richmond Park, Operation Centaur operates the last working group of Shire horses in London.

They say their work demonstrates that there is an essential role for working horses in conservation, and their work in wildflower meadows across Central and Southwest London has provided evidence that using Shire horses to manage these spaces results in more flowers and greater variety, with some flowers reappearing that had not been seen for decades.

Photograph of the day by Jennifer Griffiths – @jengriffiths49

Image above: Chiswick House; Jennifer Griffiths

Providing Shire horses with work ‘aids preservation of species’

According to The Rare Breed Society, Shire horses are an ‘at risk’ breed, even rarer than the Giant Panda. Providing opportunities for them to work is the cornerstone of their preservation. Tom Nixon, Head of Heavy Horses at Operation Centaur, said:

“Beautiful spaces such as the woodland at Chiswick House & Gardens needs careful and empathic management. Not only are our Shires the perfect solution to the maintenance needs, they also provide an opportunity to show the public that these magnificent horses are still relevant”.

Rosie Fyles, Head of Gardens at Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, added:

“Working with Operation Centaur on wooded areas is an innovation for Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. It’s a treat to see these magnificent beasts at work and we welcome the biodiversity benefits they bring into these historic areas of the Gardens.”

Chiswick House & Gardens Trust said members of the public are welcome to come and see the Operation Centaur Shire horses in action from Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March 2023, 10.00am-3.00pm. The gardens of Chiswick House are open every day from 7.00am until dusk and are free to enter.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Latest phase of Cycleway 9 complete

See also: Players and fans swap roles in Brentford FC season ticket promotional video

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: Charlton House in Brentford at present, proposals accepted by Hounslow Council

Regeneration project will see 209 new flats built

Hounslow Council’s Cabinet has agreed the business plan for the new homes at Charlton House and Albany House in Brentford, which is part of the Council’s House ambitious housebuilding programme.

The decision, which took place at Hounslow Council’s Cabinet meeting last night (Tuesday 21 February), will make way for 209 new flats and include five apartment blocks ranging between one and eight storeys high. The new development will be 100% affordable and existing residents will have the option to live in a new build within the borough or live somewhere else and return to the estate once the homes have been completed.

Residents overwhelmingly backed the regeneration in 2021 with 87% voted in favour of the proposals during the resident ballot. To keep the disruption to a minimum and the community together for as long as possible, residents will be moved out as close to the start of the building works as possible, which is expected to be in Winter 2023.

Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development at Hounslow Council, said:

“The regeneration of this estate is a top priority for Hounslow Council, and we have a robust strategy to make the regeneration of this estate reality.

“Eye-watering inflation and rising construction costs do mean we face challenges in delivering this project. However, we remain committed to making this happen and ensuring we deliver affordable homes for Hounslow residents.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Chiswick to get a new level of NHS administration coordinating the work of GPs

See also: Latest phase of Cycleway 9 complete

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: Protesters gather outside of Ealing Town Hall on Tuesday evening (21 February); credit Kabir Kaul

Campaign to make Warren Farm a nature reserve continues

A protest against Ealing Council’s plans to re-develop Warren Farm, a ‘unique urban meadow’ in Southall which has been untouched for over a decade, took place on Tuesday evening (21 February), outside Ealing Town Hall.

Ealing Council’s Cabinet has backed plans to turn as much as half of Warren Farm into a large sports facility, which opponents say will harm the natural environment, destroying the habitat of the skylarks which currently live there. Skylarks are an endangered species.

Liberal Democrat councillors including Leader of the Opposition on Ealing Council Gary Malcolm took part in the demonstration, along with Councillor Athena Zissimos, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment, Deputy Leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski, local environmental groups and residents. Protesters carried placards reading ‘Save our open spaces’ and ‘Stop de-wilding’.

Those who went to the protest claim up to 2,000 people turned up, while others reported a more modest sum of 250. Photos the event suggest it was closer to the latter figure.

Almost 20,000 people have now signed a petition for Warren Farm be made Local Nature Reserve designation for the entire site and surrounding meadows.

The strength of anger about Ealing Labour trying to de-wild @WarrenFarmNR cannot be ignored.@EalingLD are side-by-side with local campaigners protesting against the destruction of our nature prior to the call-in meeting, where will be speaking up for nature. #SaveWarrenFarm pic.twitter.com/KMZxUn88Ru

— Cllr Gary Malcolm 🔶️🇺🇦 (@CllrGaryMalcolm) February 21, 2023

Image above: Tweet by Cllr Gary Malcolm

‘Significant loss of biodiversity’ should site be redeveloped

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition, said:

“Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for the whole of Warren Farm to be designated as a Local Nature Reserve. The council approach means a significant loss of biodiversity and publicly accessible open space. Green space has been shown to be essential to ensuring improved mental health, especially in urban areas. The people of Ealing are speaking but they are not being heard.”

Activist and conservationists Kabir Kaul, who attended the protest on Tuesday, Tweeted:

‘What an evening at Ealing Town Hall! Large numbers of local residents, politicians and supporters attended to protest against @EalingCouncil’s decision to build on wildlife-rich Warren Farm.’

Ealing’s Green Party Tweeted:

‘Tonight’s #SaveWarrenFarm protest was a powerful demonstration, and we are immensely grateful to our deputy leader Zack for joining us and showing his support!’

The Council carried out a consultation between 24 March and 20 May 2022 on Warren Farm, in which they received 1,520 responses (45% from Hanwell, 30% from Ealing town, 16% from Southall and less than 4% from each of the other towns in the borough).

They say that while a majority say it is a valued green space and a wildlife haven, and view it as a precious escape to nature for locals that should be preserved,

‘There is strong consensus that the old buildings at the site should be demolished and the land needs to be rejuvenated.’

‘A number of residents’ support incorporating sports facilities into an enhanced and improved green space and ‘There are calls for a new swimming pool and a leisure centre in the area, albeit not on the grounds of Warren Farm.’

The Council argues:

“Warren Farm is Ealing’s largest outdoor sports ground, but it has been out of use for more than ten years, and the changing rooms and the pavilions are dilapidated. The council remains committed to ensuring that new sports facilities are delivered for the benefit of local people, alongside its ambitious plans for the rewilding of much of the site.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: LB Hounslow approves regeneration of flat blocks in Brentford

See also: Latest phase of Cycleway 9 complete

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: security measures outside Chiswick Business Park where Iran International is based; photograph Matt Smith

TV channel continues broadcasting from US until new studios secured in UK

Persian-language TV channel Iran International based in Chiswick Business Park have been advised to move out of the site by Counter Terrorism police due to the level of threat against their journalists from the Iranian state and the “particularities” of Chiswick Business Park.

The TV channel suspended broadcasting from the site at the weekend. Since November the site has been heavily guarded, as MI5 discovered “severe and credible” death threats against them.

Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat told Parliament on Monday (20 February):

“Counter Terrorism Policing have advised Iran International to move to a more secure location in the United Kingdom. Until their studio is ready, they have chosen to continue their broadcasting from existing studios in the United States. I can assure the House that this measure will be temporary.

“Until then, I’ve asked officials to help find a temporary location for the UK operations, and we will make sure that Iran International’s permanent new studio in the United Kingdom is secure. I spoke to Counter Terrorism Policing this morning to confirm it.”

Chiswick Business Park is home to some of the world’s leading companies, many of which have their global, European and national headquarters here. Several thousand people work on the site where Discovery Channel, Swarovski, Starbucks, Singapore airlines, Pokemon, Pladis, Pernod Ricard, Paramount, IMG, Danone, and others are based.

Last summer the Richmond American University moved its students into the building next to the one which houses Iran Internatonal, and the park is open to the public to walk through, making it virtually impossible to make it secure, despite the “robust range” of security measures which have been in place since November 2022.

READ ALSO: Chiswick Business Park fortified against potential terror attacks

Image above: security measures outside Chiswick Business Park where Iran International is based; photograph Matt Smith

Numerous plots  by the Iranian regime to kidnap or kill people in the UK foiled by security services

The clear implication from Tom Tugendhat’s statement was that Chsiwick Park was no longer safe with Iran International there. Since January 2022, The Metropolitan Police said 15 plots had been foiled to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the Iranian regime.

A journalist working for the company has told The Chiswick Calendar newsroom staff are working from home in London while the channel continues to be broadcast from its offices in Washington DC.

Mr Tugenhat reiterated his commitment to Iran International and committed to securing a temporary location for the channel’s UK operations until a permanent studio has been built. Adam Baillie, one of Iran International’s senior studio producers, told The Chiswick Calendar:

“We are very heartened by the Minister’s statement – and the strength of his support and that of Parliament for press freedom and the rights of people to live and work freely in Britain without fear of a foreign state”

Image above: Home Office Minister for Security Tom Tugendhat speaking in the House of Commons on Monday (20 February); BBC Parliament

“The media must be free to work without fear”

Tom Tugendhat  told parliament :

“In recent months the Iranian regime has publicly called for the capture or killing of those holding it to account. That includes very real and specific threats towards UK-based journalists working for Iran International, a prominent Persian-language news channel and their families.

“The Home Secretary and I absolutely condemn this outrageous violation of our sovereignty and the attempted violation of the human rights of those journalists…

“Let me be clear, freedom of press is at the heart of our freedoms. Iran’s efforts to silence Iran International are a direct attack on our freedoms an attempt to undermine our sovereignty. They will fail. Democracy is as much part, as much about journalists and civic activists as it is about politicians. The media must be free to work without fear.”

Image above: Shadow Secretary of State for Security Holly Lynch; BBC Parliament

Labour calls to proscribe military group which supports Iran regime from UK

Shadow Secretary of State for Security Holly Lynch responded to Mr Tugendhat’s statement saying the UK’s policing, security services and the British public would not tolerate intimidation from Iran, but criticised the Government’s lack of action on proscribing groups sympathetic to the Iranian regime in the UK. Ms Lynch said:

“I have met with representatives from Iran International, as the minister has said, I know they have spoken highly of the UK counter-terrorism and our security services, so I want to put my thanks them, on the record, for the work they undertake every day.

“However I have asked the Government five times in this chamber since October, why are we not going further to deploy sanctions and proscription powers against those acting on behalf of Iran?”

“In response to my question at the last Home Office questions earlier this month, the Minister spoke of his desire to see the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) proscribed. So why are they not? Either using existing terrorism powers or or new state threats equivalent, he hasn’t mentioned it at all in his statement today.

“That means the IRGC are still able to organise and establish support here in the UK, we have to put a stop to that. There are people appointed to posts here in the UK that are representatives of the Supreme Leader himself, why are they still here?”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Chiswick Business Park terror suspect appears in court

See also: Three Ukrainian refugees share their stories, a year on from escaping the war to settle in Chiswick

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: primary schoolchildren receiving meals; library image

Scheme will benefit 270,000 children

Free school meals will be offered to all primary school pupils across London for a year under plans by Sadiq Khan to tackle what he said was a failure by ministers to step up support during the cost of living crisis.

The move will come into force from September, saving families about £440 for every child and benefiting 270,000 children, City Hall estimates.

The mayor, who himself received free school meals as a boy, said he hoped the move would help “reduce the stigma that can be associated with being singled out as low-income” and boost take-up among families who needed the help most.

Mr Khan announced the plans during a visit to his old school, Fircroft Primary in Tooting, south-west London.

Image above: Sadiq Khan

Cost of living has left families in “desperate need” – Sadiq Khan

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“The cost of living crisis means families and children across our city are in desperate need of additional support. I have repeatedly urged the Government to provide free school meals to help already stretched families, but they have simply failed to act.

“This is why I’m stepping forward with an emergency £130m scheme that will ensure every single primary pupil in the capital receives free school meals. This will save families hundreds of pounds over the year, ensuring parents aren’t worrying about how they’re going to feed their children.

“It will also guarantee every primary school student a healthy, nutritious meal – meaning they don’t go hungry in the classroom and can better concentrate on their studies.

“I know from personal experience that free school meals are a lifeline. My siblings and I depended on them to eat while at school and my parents relied on them to give our family a little extra breathing room financially. The difference they can make to children who are at risk of going hungry – and to families who are struggling to make ends meet – is truly game-changing.

“Supporting London’s families through this cost of living crisis and helping ensure our children are properly fed is vital as we continue striving to build a better London for everyone – a city that is fairer, safer and more prosperous for all.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Iran International TV suspends broadcasting from Chiswick studios as Counter Terrorism police advise move to ‘more secure location’

See also: Another person dies at Turnham Green station after being hit by train

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: Visualisation of abstraction plant at Teddington; photograph Thames Water

Thames Water looking for solutions to demand for more water during droughts

Members of the Strand on the Green and Grove Park residents groups are asking why there is no consultation being held on the Chiswick and Brentford stretch of the River Thames over plans by Thames Water to siphon off water from the river to a reservoir and replace it with treated sewage.

Thames Water needs to increase domestic water supplies to cope with a rising population and the risk of future droughts but the company admits draining up to 75 million litres of water a day from the Thames upstream of Teddington Weir and replacing it with treated effluent poses a threat to river life.

As Chiswick is downstream of Teddington Weir, the quality of the water on our stretch of the river will be affected.

The company has made a number of proposals and set up public consultation meetings at various points along the Thames, from Cirencester, to Oxford, Abingdon and Reading. There have been meetings in Paddington and Richmond, but nothing organised in Brentford or Chiswick by either Thames Water or Hounslow Council.

Image above: Plan of the proposals provided by Thames Water

Change.org petition against the proposal to replace river water with treated sewage

Fiona Jones from Teddington started a petition on change.org to galvanise opinion among Teddington residents. Richmond Council, in whose jurisdiction the extraction would take place, has publicised the consultation.

“Our concerns” says Fiona, are that the scheme, which would drain off water from the river when water reserves are low and transfer it via an existing underground tunnel to the Lee Valley reservoirs in north London, would “impact on river life, fish, insects and plants, because it may impact the biodiversity of the river including changes in the water temperature, oxygen levels and its chemical make-up”.

The scheme will also need the building of what “many may consider to be an eyesore” she says,  at the point where the water would be abstracted from the Thames.

“Thames Water claim this proposal will be safe as they are regulated.  We are worried that although fines may be imposed for breach, this is not enough to protect our river.”

Thames Water themselves admit the schemes carry a cost to the environment and river life.

Company documents say the proposals have the ‘potential to cause … minor to moderate water temperature change’ along the river between Teddington Weir and Walton. There would also be a change in salinity – salt levels – along the river through to Battersea.’

Image above: Plan of the proposals provided by Thames Water

Public consultation and meetings

They say getting the treated sewer water from Mogden Water Treatment Works in Isleworth to the Thames near the weir will involve building a new 15km pipeline, which represents the fastest and cheapest option to increase the amount of water needed to meet future demands.

Critics of the scheme say they would rather the company concentrates on fixing leaks. At the moment they lose almost 24% the water they supply through leakage.

Fiona Jones writes:

‘Thames Water has repeatedly put profits and shareholders ahead of customers and environment; they were fined £51 Million last October for “missed targets” according to Ofwat.

‘Thames Water were given just 2 out of 5 stars by Environment Agency in 2021 for record sewage discharge and pollution to the Thames.’

She urges people to sign her petition, currently standing at 8,745 signatures, to give your views to the public consultation www.thames-wrmp.co.uk and to write to your MP about it.

There is an online Q&A about the scheme, organised by Thames Water, from 7-8.30pm on Monday 27 February and an in-person consultation on Friday 3 March in Twickenham from 4-8pm. Register for either of those events here: Thames Water – Hearing your views.

Since we mentioned it to them on Monday, Hounslow Council has said it would publicise the consultation on its website.

Photograph of the day by Anna Kunst – annakunstphotography.com

Image above:  People out enjoying the river at Kew Bridge; photograph Anna Kunst

UK more likely to see droughts as climate change accelerates 

Drought is part of many countries’ natural weather cycles, including the UK. But dry conditions are also expected to become more frequent and intense as Earth moves beyond the 1.2°C of climate change we have seen to date.

Following the driest summer in nearly 30 years in 2022, experts are warning that another hot dry spell could see drought conditions return in 2023, despite winter rainfall replenishing most water levels.

Thames Water’s spokesperson said:

“It’s critical that we secure our water supplies for the future, which is why we have launched our draft water resources management plan 24 which sets out the actions and investment needed for the next 50 years. We’re proposing to invest in several new strategic schemes that will provide water to the South East, including the new river abstraction at Teddington supported by water recycling.

“We’re still in the very early stages of consultation and design. If the scheme is taken forward, there will be detailed option appraisal and design work, where we will carry out engagement and consultation with the local community.”

Image above: a burst water main on Bath Road in January 2023

Campaigners say to focus on leakages 

Some campaigners against the abstraction proposals say Thames Water should focus their efforts on fixing leakages instead.

In August 2022, Thames Water revealed they were losing more than 600 million litres of water a day due to leaks in water infrastructure, almost a quarter of all the water it supplies.

On leakages, Thames Water’s spokesperson added:

“Reducing leakage is a priority for us. Right now, around 24pc of the water we supply is lost through leaks from our own network and customer pipes. We know it’s not acceptable to be losing so much precious water and we’ve got a plan to fix it. We’ve met our target for the last three years, reducing leaks by more than 10pc (from 2017/18 levels), and we’re aiming for a 50pc reduction by 2050.

“We are repairing over 1000 leaks per week – whether they are visible or hidden below ground across 20,000 miles of pipes across our network – that’s one leak every 10 minutes. We’re also working with our customers to reduce leakage from their water pipes  (which make up a third of our total leakage).

“Whilst fixing leaks is one of the foundations of the plan, even with an ambitious target of reducing leaks by 50pc, we still need more storage in the future to account for growing population demand and climate change.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Sadiq Khan announces free school meals for all primary schoolchildren in London

See also: Iran International suspends operations in Chiswick after continued threats against journalists

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar

Image above: inside Iran international studios; photograph Matt Smith

TV station faced “significant escalation in state-backed threats from Iran”

Independent TV network Iran International has ‘reluctantly’ suspended its operations in the UK because of threats against its Chiswick-based journalists.

The Metropolitan Police said 15 plots had been foiled since the start of 2022 to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals perceived as enemies of the Iranian regime.

Image above: armed terror police at Chiswick Business Park

“Not just a threat to our TV station, but the British public at large”

Iran International has been one of the most prominent providers of news on the recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran. This has made them a target by the Iranian regime, which has accused them of supporting terrorism.

Protests swept across the country in September following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab according to the requirements of Iranian religious law.

Image above: inside Iran International studios; photograph Matt Smith

Media freedom “vital part of our society” 

There is an ongoing criminal case currently in which a man who was detained at Chiswick Business Park on Saturday 11 February has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges.

READ ALSO: Chiswick Business Park terror suspect appears in court

Magomed-Husekjn Dovtaev, 30, appeared in court last week with terrorism after collecting information outside the channel’s Chiswick headquarters. The Austrian national will appear at the Old Bailey on 3 March.

In November, British-Iranian journalists based in the UK were warned by police of imminent threats, which prompted increased security measures and calls from the House of Commons for the UK to proscribe Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group. Shortly after, an unnamed British-Iranian citizen was arrested in Iran for allegedly sharing information with foreign-based news channels.

“Media freedom is a vital part of our society and journalists must be able to investigate and report independently without fear,” a government spokesperson said.

“We will not tolerate any threat to media organisations or journalists. We know the Iranian regime has established a pattern of this type of behaviour which is completely unacceptable, yet sadly typical of the regime and its lack of respect for basic rights.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Three Ukrainian refugees share their stories, a year on from escaping the war to settle in Chiswick

See also: Turkish charity based in London tops £1million in donations

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

Support The Chiswick Calendar