EastSheenMatters

Trump clears the way for increased Russian bombing of Ukraine.

The next Bring and Share lunch at Christ Church Community Hall will be this Thursday, 27 February, at 12.30pm. Please contact Mireille Stanton – email: mireille.stanton@gmail.com, Sue Bonnell – 07762 018864, Sara Bromfield – 07986 726309, or Kate Woodhouse – email: katewoodhouse20@gmail.com if you would like to come and for further information.

The post earlier this morning about the planned disbanding of the Parks Police was based on a report in the Richmond Nub News. Cllr Julia Cambridge has replied to this post to the effect that the report was not correct.

‘I attended a specially called meeting of the Safer Parks Police Panel where representatives of both Richmond and Bushy SPPP members were present. 

‘We were given an update on the recent news that the Royal Parks Police Units may be disbanded due to lack of funding. Whilst no final decision has been made or given to the police involved it was made clear that difficult decisions might be made and if so they would come ‘in the calendar year’. 

‘The petition is still running to stop the cuts and a campaign developing to, as a worst case scenario, press the MET Police leadership to leave a reduced number of specialist police to patrol and look after Richmond and Bushy Parks as part of a force where a few officers from the existing unit are absorbed into the South West Command Unit.’

You can’t check your sources too carefully, even if they are reported in local news outlets!

As previously warned as likely in this blog Richmond and Bushy Parks Safer Parks Panel has been notified by the Met Police that its park force will shut by December 2025. On Friday, 14 February, the panel was also informed that the Royal Parks Police will continue until “at least” 31 March 2025.

This decision seems quite irrational. Will anyone consider a Judicial Review?

Next week is the third anniversary of Putin’s brutal assault on Ukraine. This blog has rarely commented on international politics, but it did so then and has updated at times. It was argued then that Russia had to be stopped. It was not and we are now suffering the consequences. See

Now we have a new realpolitik brought about by an untrustworthy US President. What are his motives? Attempting to bring about a new world order, in which the megalamania of him and the likes of Musk can be given full rein? And perhaps to weaken Europe so the likes of the Baltic States and Greenland are at risk.

Whatever the reasons Europe has experience of appeasement. We cannot afford to allow the US and Russia to climb into bed together without Europe demonstrating firm opposition to selling out Ukraine. In any event this is not solely about Ukraine. The whole of Western Europe is at risk. Can we really still afford to be sharing intelligence with the US, when their President might disclose secrets for his own benefit?

English Heritage has announced that it is to unveil a Blue Plaque in honour of Marc Bolan (1947–1977). The enigmatic frontman of T. Rex spearheaded the Glam Rock movement of the 1970s. Known for his flamboyant style and electrifying stage presence, Bolan captivated audiences with his fusion of rock, folk, and glittering theatrics, making hits like Get It On and Ride a White Swan.

The plaque will mark one of his west London addresses. Bolan died after his car ploughed into a tree in Queen’s Ride in Barnes in 1977, where there is already a ‘tree shrine’.

The English Heritage Blue Plaque is to be placed at “one of his west London addresses” (hopefully his last home, at 142 Upper Richmond Road, not far from where he died). It will be interesting to see how it is positioned, given the wall that exists there opposite the north end of Gilpin Avenue.

//www.english-heritage.org.uk

You may remember visiting Stag Brewery Studios in 2023 while the TV Series ‘A Thousand Blows’ was being made.

The first instalment will be shown on Disney+ on 21 February 2025. See here for the trailer: A Thousand Blows official trailer | Watch

Advance Notice MESS AGM will be held on Monday 24 March 2025 at All Saints Church.

The largest housing development in Richmond is at the Mortlake Brewery site. A decision on the planning applications is due next month.

But there are (or were) two other developments close by, which also involve housing.. There are firm reports that the Homebase site, where the Mayor gave planning permission for some 400 residential units, is not now going to proceed for cost reasons. There are also rumours that progress may have stalled at the Barnes Hospital site.

Just what strategic planning is going on?