Tuesday 21 August 2012

Bush Green open in October

Shepherd's Bush Green: deserted
The locals are not happy! Many of you have been expressing your anger at the slack effort that seems to charecterise the current works on the Green, being carried out by contractors FM Conway.

A number of people have asked me for the latest on this so I have been speaking to our Council, who tell me the latest expectation is that it will re-open in October.

Now then, before we all lay into either the Council or the contractors, it’s worth bearing in mind that they have had what has at times seemed like the will of the Gods conspiring against them. The discovery of dangerous chemicals, followed by unexploded ordnance from the Second World War can hardly be an easy thing to deal with – and of course it has been one of the wettest summers on record, ensuring that the patch of land started to resemble no-mans-land at the Somme.

That of course also follows the delays which were as a result of the dispute between our Council and local residents which needed to be resolved by an independent arbiter.

However – it does also seem to be the case that FM Conway’s work teams seem to be on some kind of super EU working hours contract that involves long leisurely breaks and very early end times to the day.

Speaking to me earlier the Cabinet Member responsible for the works Cllr Greg Smith had this to say:
“Despite major factors outside the council's control, including the wettest summer on record, the discovery on an unexploded World War Two bomb close to the site and a small amount of contaminants in the underlying soil, work to rejuvenate Shepherds Bush Green is on schedule with the open space likely to officially reopen in October.

"The new Green will undoubtedly benefit everyone who lives near, visits or works in and around Shepherds Bush, as well as rejuvenating a park that really needs a boost and we look forward to it reopening in the near future.”
We certainly do.

WEDNESDAY 1420 UPDATE - Well, after promising for about 24 hours the contractors FM Conway have responded to this article and not a few comments from local people - some of which involved taking the project out of their hands and outsourcing to local pizza workers - with this statement to me this afternoon:
"At present our site hours are 7.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday as agreed within the current contract.

Design complications and unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather has hampered work progress, however, we did continue with the works that could be done in order to keep the project on track as much as possible.

We do recognise that the delays are frustrating for residents but we are working closely with London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to deliver this fantastic new scheme for the community to a very high standard. 
The scheme is due to be complete in Autumn 2012. Updates on progress will be available at www.lbhf.gov.uk/shepherdsbushgreen"
I'm not sure that really moves us forward but it was good of them to respond. Now then - are they always there at 0730?!

16 comments:

  1. So another two months of work?!

    I'm not being funny but if I was to take over the project management of this today, I reckon I could get a team of Polish workers to have the job done within a fortnight!

    Stuart

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  2. Greg Burns says it's on schedule? It was meant to be finished in time for the Olympics originally.

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  3. Sorry - Greg Smith, Greg Smith.

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  4. yes lets get a team together and finish it. it would take a weekend i reckon. plus those dudes outside pizza express could help restore the picnic area so winners all round!

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  5. I have never seen anybody working on it. The contractor is having a laugh, they probably do a few hours a day and spend most of that in McDonalds.

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  6. I'n not surprised there's a slack work ethic on that Green -it has been the spitiual home of the work shy/ lay-about/dosser/wino since way back when - historically it was even where the shepherds used to stop off on their way into London for a spot of relaxing, before a hard day trading sheep.

    I'm not sure all the cosmetic work is really going to solve the problems that afflict the Green. You have a very busy dole office and loads of places opposite the green to buy cheap booze. And is effectively a huge traffic island with tower blocks shadowing it, so not really a nice loungy common.

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    1. Still, the drunks have two big new climbing frames to play on ;-)

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  7. So for the entire summer the green is closed, reopening once the good weather has gone. We have seen one worker laying tiles at the road crossing. Four days later, he has still not finished, largely as he spends most of his time staring at traffic and wandering around! Now, I am no labourer, but I could have had that job done within a day at most.

    Why can't they do the work in stages and open sections as and when ready? I am sure people would be far more forgiving if there was any space to relax on, but a 3 month delay is not 'on schedule' and is simply not good enough.

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    1. The contractors FM Conway keep promising me a statement on their working hours but it's been nearly 24 hours since they did, clearly how they like to work! Will bring it to you when they get round to it...

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    2. I imagine they are meant to start at around 8:00 and finish at about 16:00...meant to, of course...

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  8. They're going to have to do some backtracking and replace all the turf they've already laid, not watered and subsequently let die at the Ginglik end of the Green.

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  9. "I'n not surprised there's a slack work ethic on that Green -it has been the spitiual home of the work shy/ lay-about/dosser/wino since way back when - historically it was even where the shepherds used to stop off on their way into London for a spot of relaxing, before a hard day trading sheep."

    Imagine!

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    1. ....some of us refuse to work for this system and that's our prerogative....it's ok for the workshy bankers etc to laze about in their 'Gentle' mens clubs though, eh!

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  10. Well they were well into it at 0805 this morning, so probably were today...

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    1. i walk past every day and always see the contractor working at 800am! keep up the good work!!

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