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The Annual General meeting on 19th May covering the year to 31st December 2021 brought a return, following demise of Covid lockdown restrictions, to an in-person meeting. Line-up of the committee being: Susan Casey was re-appointed at Chair, Brian Grumbridge, Treasurer, Lynne McEvoy, Membership SecretaryAndy Roper, Christine Diwell, Joyce Tomalin, Rob Kemp and Val Snewin as committee.  In addition, two new members of the committee were warmly welcomed, Graham Arnold and Arianne Duch, but TIS still lack an Hon. Secretary and dedicated Planning Officer.   

At TIS’s invitation the Council’s Conservation Officers devoted a day to a walkabout of Isleworth Riverside Conservation Area with a view to ascertaining if the time was right for application for an Article 4 Direction, to provide further protection.  Subsequently a visit was made by Historic England who would be one arbiter of such a decision. Their official was very impressed with the Thames riverside, but on balance it was felt as so many buildings in the vicinity benefit from listing giving even higher protection, Article 4 at this time, would not be appropriate for that area.   The opportunity of both visits was taken to inspect the Grade ll Listed Chapels within Park Road Cemetery where Men’s Shed are seen to have done such good renovation work within the limited funding available. A result of this is further efforts will be made to source more funds to enable the badly needed restoration of stonework at both entrances that are currently held up by unsightly metal supports. Historic England also visited The George Inn (Grade ll Listed). While full scaffolding has been in place for some time there’s no firm evidence work is being carried out. This remains on the “watch list” but is not yet formally on Historic England Building at Risk Register; a close eye is being kept in an endeavour to see restoration work satisfactorily concluded.  

In addition, TIS, worried by the length of time the Town Wharf Public House has been empty, contacted owners Samuel Smith to highlight the unsightly boarding installed with the intention of preventing access to the decking area thwarted by gaps in the railings enabling entry and exit. The response was less than satisfactory indicating the boarding was installed after Police had contacted them on more than one occasion about anti-social behaviour reports. This also cited that the hospitality industry is currently having recruitment difficulties with the company seeing a real shortage of quality applicants for roles, despite having raised the salary by around 25%.