The Old Chiswick Protection Society is a voluntary group founded over 50 years ago to conserve and protect the heart of the old parish of Chiswick.
About Our Work
How we work
The Society's main aim is to secure for the benefit of the public, the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historical, architectural and artistic interest, including the streets, open spaces and trees in or near Old Chiswick, in order to retain or enhance the character of the area. We monitor, advise and support organisations and individuals on how best this can be done. We organise and take part in activities to advance our aims, hold an informative AGM once a year, and issue a biannual Newsletter.
Advice, monitoring and information
We monitor planning applications and work closely with, in particular, the Planning Department of the London Borough of Hounslow (LBH).
With the river bounding our southern side and the A4 to the north, influencing decisions and carrying out work relating to the Thames and to roads and traffic is also a priority. Heathrow Airport's flight-path affects the skies above us, and the Thames Tideway Tunnel the ground beneath us.
We offer advice to and alert other bodies such as Transport for London (TfL), the Port of London Authority (PLA), Heathrow Airport, the West London River Group, the Thames Explorer Trust and Thames 21, as well as neighbouring borough councils. When appropriate, we are in communication with organisations such as English Heritage, Natural England and the Environment Agency.
We liaise with other community groups whose area of interest can include Old Chiswick. In the past we contributed to the development of the Thames Strategy: Kew to Chelsea (Chiswick is part of Reach 3), which is now part of The London Plan.
We support local amenity groups which have aims similar to those of OCPS, including the Friends of St Nicholas' Church and the William Hogarth Trust, and liaise with the Hammersmith Mall Residents' Association (HAMRA). Locally too, we have very good relations with the local Police, the Neighbourhood Watch, and not least with Fuller’s Brewery.
We are able to offer guidance to individuals through pointers in our Newsletters or at the AGMs, and our website links.
The Society is keen to contribute to the area's history and artistic legacy. Moreover, we are developing papers about particular aspects of the history and character of Old Chiswick to help guide our actions and provide more information for the public: see OCPS resources. We have also started recording Oral Histories to capture memories of Old Chiswick before they are lost forever: see Oral history.
Action
OCPS has, since its beginnings, carried out many projects and activities through its members. Some of these activities, such as work on Chiswick Eyot, are undertaken as a group on a regular basis. The latest activities can be seen on our News page, and past and present involvement and achievements in our Newsletters. Please send us your suggestions for future activity.
Communication
Newsletter
The OCPS has for many years produced a biannual Newsletter, distributed to members and local households and businesses. The more recent ones are available on-line at Newsletters and show some of our achievements and challenges in recent years.
Events
Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is where progress is reported, plans laid out and questions debated. For the record of past meetings, please see AGM Minutes. The AGM is now usually held in November.
Summer Party
In recent years we have held a party in the summer so all those interested in the protection of Old Chiswick can get to know one another.
