Chiswick is a place I’ve always felt closely connected to as a lifelong resident of this borough.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with communities across the area, including serving as a councillor for eight years, sitting on planning, licensing and scrutiny committees, and as part of the council’s cabinet in 2021 – 2022.
Through that experience, one thing has always been clear to me: residents want to be heard, respected and properly considered in the decisions that shape their everyday lives.
But listening to residents is not something that should ever be taken for granted.
Recent events have shown just how fragile that expectation can be. I attended this month’s Chiswick Area Forum, the only one that went ahead across the borough and chaired by a Conservative councillor while others were cancelled. These forums are not a luxury.
They are the bare minimum residents should expect from local democracy. If we are not willing to listen openly and publicly, then we have to ask what we are here for.
That experience reinforced something I have long believed. Accountability does not happen behind closed doors. It happens when residents are given a voice, when concerns are heard in the open and when decision makers are willing to be challenged.
Those principles have guided me throughout my time in public service and ultimately led me to make one of the most difficult decisions of my political life, leaving the Labour Party.
This was not a decision I took lightly. For many years, I believed strongly in what the party stood for. But over time, I became increasingly concerned that the focus had shifted away from residents, away from listening, engaging and being accountable.
I reached a point where I could no longer reconcile those differences. Politics should never feel distant or imposed. It should feel rooted in the communities it serves.
This brings me to one of the most pressing issues currently affecting many people in and around Chiswick, the future of festivals in Gunnersbury Park.
Gunnersbury Park is a treasured green space, a place of calm, of community and of everyday escape. Events can play a role in enhancing that. But for residents living nearby, they can also bring real disruption, from noise late into the evening to congested roads and a sense that their concerns come second.
That is why the current proposal to grant a 10 year blanket permission for festivals is so concerning. A 10 year permission risks removing one of the most important safeguards residents have, regular accountability.
It effectively creates a blank cheque, reducing the need for organisers to come back, engage and improve. It limits opportunities for proper scrutiny and weakens the ability of residents to influence how events are run. At its heart, it moves decision making further away from the people it affects most.
There is a better and fairer approach. Shorter term permissions of one to two years, with clear and enforceable conditions, would strike the right balance. They would allow events to continue and thrive while ensuring organisers remain accountable and responsive.
This is not about opposing events. It is about protecting the balance that makes places like Chiswick so special.
I also want to pay tribute to my colleague Joanna Bidolph, who has been a tireless advocate for residents throughout this process. Joanna has worked consistently to ensure that local voices are heard at every stage, asking the difficult questions and standing up for proper scrutiny.
A sense of community is something we see at its very best on Chiswick High Road.
The markets here are more than just places to shop. They are part of the fabric of local life. They bring energy, colour and connection. They showcase talent, support small businesses and give people a reason to come together.
I have long admired and supported these markets, including during my time on the licensing committee. They play a vital role in adding culture and vibrancy to the High Road, bringing together some of the best traders in food, antiques and crafts from across the country alongside brilliant local talent.
It was a real pleasure to attend the inaugural open art market last weekend. Seeing the work of local artists, including those from the W4 Art and Design group such as Jennifer Griffiths, was genuinely inspiring and a powerful reminder of the creativity that exists within this community.
I have also always appreciated the dedication of those behind the scenes. In particular, Ron Mushiso has shown unwavering commitment over the years, not just in organising the Chiswick Flower Market but in the small, thoughtful gestures that define a true community spirit, like personally delivering flowers to residents.
I am proud to be standing as a council candidate for Chiswick Gunnersbury ward alongside Ron and Joanna.