December 2009 Archives

A campaign is being waged by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to try to disrupt plans for a giant 'super-sewer' that would stop billions of litres of raw sewage being pumped into the Thames.

The authority believes the £2.2 billion Tideway Tunnel project - which has the backing of Government, the Mayor of London and anti-pollution campaigners - will prove too damaging to the lives of residents in the borough and will not bring enough improvements to justify the cost.

Shoppers attempting late Christmas shopping at Westfield were trapped for hours in gridlocked streets last night as heavy traffic crawled its way through ice and snow.

Customers reported queues of up to two hours to get out of the car park of the shopping centre, with congestion backed up all the way from Shepherd's Bush to Hammersmith Broadway and down Fulham Palace Road.

One 29-year-old shopper, from Putney, said: "I waited for 40 minutes for a bus which didn't turn up, and a taxi refused to take me because the traffic was completely gridlocked. It was a nightmare."

Have you been trapped in the gridlocked Christmas rush? Leave your comments below.

Moviegoers visiting the new cinema at Westfield will be offered booze in the aisles - but ushers wearing night vision goggles will be on hand to make sure everyone in the audience behaves.

Multiplex chain Vue is planning to sell beer and wine from trays and trolleys in each of its 14 screens when the new 24-hour venue opens in the Shepherd's Bush shopping centre early next year, where live music, karaoke, film singalongs, dance events and plays will be offered alongside traditional movies.

A bitterly contested development on the site of a former care home in Shepherd's Bush was given the green light last night despite angry protests at Hammersmith Town Hall.

Around 70 residents opposed to plans for 66 new homes in Goldhawk Road brought placards and banners to the planning meeting and heckled councillors throughout the four-hour debate.

A historic church in the centre of Hammersmith has been revealed for the first time in nearly four years following a massive refurbishment project.

The restoration of St Paul's in Queen Caroline Street cost £1.75m and was paid for entirely by selling advertising space on the outside - next to the busy Hammersmith flyover - while stonemasons carried out extensive repairs to the roof, walls and bell tower.

Adrian Seal: I'm Adrian and I'm the Multimedia Content Manager for the Hounslow Chronicle and Ealing Gazette series. I've worked for Trinity Mirror Southern for a number of years including as an editor and group editor. I'm keen to hear about any news you would like to see covered in our newspapers and on our websites. Email me

Dan Hodges: I've been a journalist for five years, working for daily and weekly publications in Nottingham and Ealing before moving to my current patch, Hammersmith and Fulham. I'm keen to get involved with the community, stalk the corridors of power, plough through paperwork and pound the streets to bring you the best stories. Call me on 07909 532 432 or email

Paloma Kubiak: Since joining the Gazette in May 2008, I have established strong links and built trust within communities in Ealing and Acton. I have an eye for detail, strive for the truth and aim to deliver the news that truly matters to you. I am also the health reporter, bringing vital information on health issues into the public domain. Please email or call 07909 532 430.

James Gates: James Gates has been with the Gazette since May 2008. In that time, he has forged strong links across Southall.
He is committed to covering stories big and small, as well as shedding light on matters of public interest and issues which matter to the community. Email me

Michael 'Raffles' Russell: I've tackled a wide range of stories in my three years at the Gazette, with a good nature and politeness which has earned me the nickname The Gentleman Journalist. I'm also the crime reporter and cover Greenford and Northolt, as well as Ealing. Email me or call 07909 532451.

Jane Harrison: I have been a local newspaper journalist for over 20 years. I believe grass roots reporting is what local newspapers are about. I am writing for the Guide, running the Marie Curie nurses campaign and cover general news for Ealing. I am also a silk painter, exhibiting my work at local art centres, galleries and craft fairs. Email me

Yann Tear: Regular Gazette readers will know me by now as I worked on the news desk and arts pages for several years before becoming sports editor in 2000. I am proud to have been able to report on the best and worst of west London's key sporting moments since then. Please continue sharing your tales from the world of sport. Email me or phone 077961 76738.

Other Useful contacts:

Steve Bax, website contact
Paul Bishop, Sports Editor
Chris Berry, Photographic

Live mortar bombs were discovered by workers digging a trench near BBC buildings in Wood Lane.

Contractors laying an electricity cable found the bombs after a digger was brought in to excavate the site in Depot Road, next to the White City Tube station in Shepherd's Bush, at around 4pm on Wednesday.

A pair of pit bull terriers and two puppies which police believe may have destined for use as 'weapon dogs' were seized in a raid in Shepherd's Bush.

Specialist handlers from the Met's status dog unit were brought in to tackle the animals at a house in Norbroke Street following a tip-off from a member of the public who recognised the illegal breed.

A new website offering opinions on all Hammersmith and Fulham's public services has been slammed as a waste of time and money by town hall chiefs despite painting a rosy picture of life in the borough.

The Oneplace service unveiled today (9) was created to give people an independent overview of how their council, police and health service are performing on issues such as crime, levels of affordable housing and general quality of life.

Three members of a family who ran a construction firm that is believed to have helped build Westfield were jailed following the discovery of a massive tax fraud.

Amarjit Singh Sidhu, cousin Surjit Singh Dhindsa and brother-in-law Rajinder Singh Bhattle stole more than £771,000 from the public purse in an elaborate scam, part of which involved setting up fake National Insurance numbers for labourers working on construction sites in White City.