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Friday, 15 December 2023

Collaborating for the homeless at Holy Trinity Church

The Night Shelter based at Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow, is open every night across the Christmas period, and runs right up until March for those seeking shelter through referral by the Council's rough sleeping outreach team.

The shelter is a great example of collaboration between the Council and local voluntary groups including The Olive Branch Team, London of Borough of Hounslow Rough Sleepers, Public Health and Community Partnership Unit (CPU) teams and Al Mustafa Trust (pictured), who are the main food providers. A host of other charitable organisations have also supported the launch through donations and volunteering efforts.

Those in need of shelter in the harsh winter months are provided with a hot meal, a shower and a warm bed for the night, with breakfast in the morning. 

If you are interested in volunteering you must be over 18, ideally with a current DBS or a good character reference. Contact sarah.whale@hounslow.gov.uk if you would like to get involved. 

Delivering new homes for residents

This week, Councillor Tom Bruce, Hounslow’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development, wrote his first column for the Hounslow Herald.

He discusses the groundbreaking Annual Public Health report, the Council’s flagship estate regeneration project and delivering homes for vulnerable residents. 

Bees buzzing about a decade of local social impact

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Katherine Dunne (pictured, right) chats to Ian Dobie, Chair of Trustees at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust (left)

On Wednesday, 13 December, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust celebrated the launch of their latest Social Impact Study that reported a headline valuation of £143,076,836 for the Club and Trust. The figure, calculated through the Substance Social Impact and Value report, estimates the economic and social contribution that Brentford FC and the Community Sports Trust made to west London during a three-year reporting period from 1 April 2020 - 31 March 2023.

The club have also calculated a social value of £54 million in Hounslow over a three-year reporting period.

Trading Standards’ 12 Days of Christmas

The Council's Trading Standards team have compiled a handy Christmas list containing tips to keep you safe when shopping for the festive period. Check out the tips here

Young eco-activists take the stage at Hounslow Climate Conference

Let’s work on your winter checklist

From keeping warm to eating well and making sure you have your winter vaccinations if you are eligible, there is something everyone can do to protect their health and wellbeing this winter. 

Partners at the NHS West London NHS Trust have put together their own advice for keeping yourself safe during the winter. 

You are encouraged to look out for people who may be feeling lonely or isolated, as Christmas can be a particularly hard time for them. Check out the befriending service for more details. In particularly severe weather, you can also help people living on the streets to access additional support. 

Check the Hounslow Council website for information on what regular services may not be available over the Christmas period and alternative avenues of support. 

Hounslow’s Single Local Plan – Have your say

This is your last chance to have your say on the Hounslow Local Plan Review: Regulation 18 Consultation (Single Local Plan). The consultation will close on Sunday, 17 December.

The Council is consulting on the borough’s intended approach of progressing the Hounslow Local Plan Review as a single Local Plan, rather than as a series of separate documents in different volumes, which was the case until recently.

Information on the background of the Local Plan Review, including the story so far, can be found on the Council's Regulation 18 Consultation on the Single Local Plan webpage.

To find out more about Local Plan, watch this video by Planning Inspectorate. 

Hooray for Hounslow’s new Climate Hub

Although the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) finished earlier this week, the ambitious climate action carries on in Hounslow.

The Council launched the Net Zero Hub on Wednesday, 13 December, a new online platform which is designed to improve climate communications and engagement for residents.

Improving the way that residents and businesses interact and understand Hounslow’s climate ambitions is the Council’s primary goal, but the platform will also play an important part in attracting new support and investment for key net zero deliverables.

Parking charges over Christmas and New Year

Over the festive period PaybyPhone parking charges in Council-owned car parks will be suspended. The dates parking will be free are 23 to 26 December 2023 and 1 January 2024. For a list of car parks please visit here

The Council's Health Outreach Team (HOT) bus will be travelling across Hounslow in December, administering flu and COVID-19 vaccines and helping people with a range of other health issues.

The HOT bus will be at the following locations this week:

• Saturday, 16 December - Tesco Osterley, Grant Way, Isleworth, 10am - 4pm
• Wednesday, 20 December - Brabazon Shopping parade, Heston, 10am - 4pm

There is no need to make an appointment, you can just turn up on the day and speak to the friendly team about getting your winter vaccines there and then.

You can find more details and eligibility information on the Council's website.

Share your voice for a safer community 

The Council is consulting with residents, visitors and community organisations on the next Safer Communities Strategy for 2024-27.

The ambition is to work with communities to keep Hounslow a low-crime borough and a safe place to live, work, study and visit.

You can help to shape how the Council can make the community safer by responding about any of these issues locally. The consultation will close on Thursday, 21 December 2023.

Festive waste collection changes

Please be aware that there are changes to waste collection during the festive period.

The Council will be collecting real Christmas Trees between Monday, 8 and Friday, 19 January 2024. Please ensure that you have removed the lights and decorations from your Christmas Tree, and it is left on the boundary of your property, not the pavement, by 7am on the morning of the collection day. To see what date your tree collection day is, please click here.