Joseph Bourke, Cllr Andrew Dakers and Mona Naqvi are the Lib Dem team for Brentford ward.  We have been selected as the Lib Dem candidates for the 2010 local elections.

Through our website you can read our latest press releases and explore our Brentford campaigns (see menu on left) from calls for a youth centre to Brentford High Street to infrastructure under stress.

Help us write the Lib Dem Hounslow Manifesto for the 2010 elections by completing our survey and please do not hesitate to report a problem to us or sign up to help.

You can also register for our e-newsletter or follow Andrew on Twitter.

Elderly and disabled people, particularly those with serious illnesses, are more vulnerable to cold weather.  If you have elderly or disabled friends, relatives or neighbours, make sure you check to see that they are okay.

People on a low income might be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment to help keep warm during the cold weather.

Homes should be kept at the recommended temperature of 18 to 21 degrees Celsius (64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).  If you can not heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to bed.

Other tips from the NHS are: Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts; have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible; wear several light layers of warm clothes; keep as active as possible; and wrap up warm if you do need to go outside.

Already we’ve attended the Chrismas Fayre on 24th November at St Faith’s Church where we enjoyed traditional craftsmanship including Richardsons demonstrating the preparation of a 5 Bird, rolled roast, how to stuff a turkey and the preparation of other Christmas meats, and a baker showing how to ice and decorate Christmas cakes. On Friday 27th November Andrew was hosting the wonderful Christmas Lights switch on at Watermans Centre in his capacity as Chair of Brentford High Street Steering Group.  Decorations were made by the young people for the Community Christmas Tree.

There is more still lots more to come with Carols in the Park on Monday 21st Dec at 6.30pm, St Pauls Rec.  At St Faith’s Church, Windmill Rd: Sunday 6th December - 10am, traditional nativity play; Sunday 20th December - 6.30pm, Carols by Candlelight followed by mince pies and seasonal drinks; Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th November 4.00pm - “Away in a Manger”, a service to bring children too of all ages and 11.30pm - Midnight Communion; and Christmas Day, Friday 25th December - 10.00am - Family Christmas Celebration service.

Andrew Ritchie the founder of Brentford based Brompton bicycles has received the Prince Phillip Designers Prize 2009. Brentford ward councillor Andrew Dakers who has used a Brompton as his main mode of transport for over four years (see photo) has sent Mr Ritchie a message of congratulations.

Andrew Ritchie has dedicated himself to perfecting the design of a single product – the Brompton folding bicycle. In the process, he has made it an international success story and built a business which has grown by 25% for the last three years. The Brompton sells in more than 30 countries, contributing to sustainable transport by getting riders out of their cars.

Its success is based on the ingenuity of its folding mechanism, its balance between functionality, durability and comfort, and a consistent 20-year commitment by Andrew to refining the product and its 1,200 parts – many of which are unique to Brompton. The business still dedicates 50% of management resource to design and development to keep itself ahead of growing competition in the fast-evolving folding bicycle market.

After the initial scare of the BBC News reports, the good news is that barely any of the concerns they raised turned out to be true. The scare was prompted by Hounslow Homes unfortunately responding the BBC’s Freedom of Information (FOI) request incorrectly. Hounslow Homes have now improved their procedures to stop this happening in future and have assured local councillors that fire risk assessments and checks are being undertaken regularly.

Andrew is now ensuring that work is taken on the following issues:
- all doors to residential properties are fire proof, smoke alarms in individual flats are mains powered with battery back-up - Hounslow Homes, the Fire Service and local councillors need residents support in making sure this work can be done;
- fire safety signage is improved in communal areas and in flats;
- ‘gas risers’ are changed to electric facilities for cooking by National Grid.

The webcast of the scrutiny meeting on Wednesday 14 October where Hounslow Homes and the Fire service answered questions, will be online shortly. The general conclusion of our investigations however is that fire safety is well managed in the Towers!