Local Authority

Police have been given new powers to confiscate alcohol from drinkers in Heston and Lampton parks in a bid to crack down on booze-fuelled crime.

The two parks, together with surrounding streets, will become controlled drinking zones (CDZ) from February 15.

A development in Heston has won an award for low-cost housing.

Banks Yard, in New Heston Road, was named best small development at the Affordable Home Ownership Awards 2009, hosted by Property Ladder presenter Sarah Beeny last month.

Banks Yard, built by Octavia Housing, was completed in July last year and has 28 homes, including 10 'affordable' properties for rent.

ELDERLY Hounslow residents whose homes have been 'blighted' by the long-delayed town centre redevelopment have finally won their battle for compensation.

Hounslow Council was ordered to shell out by the Local Government Ombudsman, which accused it of being 'slow to accept its responsibilities as a good neighbour' towards householders in Holloway Street.

.
HOUNSLOW Council spent £15,000 on an art project for asylum seekers, its accounts have shown

The grant paid to the Refugee Art and Cultural Enterprise (RACE) group is one of many items the authority has faced criticism for splashing out on since its accounts were made public last week.

The British National Party received nearly 2,700 votes in Hounslow in the European elections.

The far right extremists polled more than five per cent of the total votes cast in the borough.

A Labour councillor has been suspended from the party for flouting planning regulations.

Jiwan Virk, who represents the Bedfont ward, was suspended by the group on Tuesday night, pending the results of a disciplinary hearing on June 10.

There are just over two weeks left for residents to get their hands on a share of £1.5 million to make over estates in Hounslow.

Hounslow Homes tenants have until March 13 to apply for grants of up to £100,000 as part of the council's Rainbow Project.

SFIDA (Challenge) Albanian/Kosovan/Macedonian and Gorani Women's Group in Hounslow held an informative and enlightening event on the 21st February 2009 in the Green Room at the Treaty Centre in Hounslow to increase awareness within the community about preventing violence and extremism.

They were joined by Karen Snoddy, Adam Garcia and Karmjit Rekhi, police officers from Hounslow's new Prevent and Engagement Team which focuses on supporting individuals who are vulnerable to recruitment by those who promote extremism.

Plans to outlaw drinking in Lampton Park will go under the spotlight at a public meeting on Thursday next week.

Members of Heston East Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) will discuss the proposals at Hounslow Civic Centre in Lampton Road, Hounslow, from 7pm till 9pm.

Young and old united at Hounslow's Civic Centre on Tuesday to remember the estimated six million Jews killed during the Second World War.

About 100 people, including Hounslow Mayor Genevieve Hibbs, gathered at the site in Lampton Road to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.