A former Labour Party member and ex-wife of a Labour councillor who has defected to the Liberal Democrats is among those standing in the Cranford by-elections.
All five main parties are fielding candidates for the by-election, which was triggered by the death of Councillor Sohan Sangha and is due to take place on February 11 .
Below are short profiles of all the candidates and their key election pledges.
Sukhdev Maras - Conservatives
Sukhdev Maras previously stood unsuccessfully in Cranford in the 2006 and 2010 local elections, for the Independent Alliance group and Beavers Cranford Party respectively.
The 54-year-old, who has lived in Cranford since he was a young boy, was formerly a PC with the Metropolitan Police and is now a member of the British Airways cabin crew.
One of the biggest issues for him is the amount of graffiti and rubbish he says is blighting the neighbourhood. He believes the Labour-run council has taken too soft an approach historically with both the culprits and those contracted to clear up the borough's streets.
He also wants to restore the old Meadowbank Community Centre and put it "back in the community's hands", and would like to see traffic lights installed at the Jolly Waggoners roundabout at the junction of the A4 and A312 to deal with congestion.
Regarding Heathrow, he says he is pro-expansion but believes the existing compensation package for those under the flight path is not good enough.
"Some people are getting the full cost (of insulation measures) paid, while those a few doors down are having to contribute half themselves, which doesn't seem fair," he says.
The father-of-six, who has one granddaughter, is vice president of the Indian Overseas Welfare Association UK and a former chair of governors at Cranford Infant & Nursery School.
Nico Fekete - Green Party
Nico Fekete, an environmental consultant for the construction industry, is a first-time candidate.
He was born in Argentina, grew up in Spain and has lived in France, Germany and Ireland before coming to Hounslow three years ago.
The 36-year-old, who lives in Chiswick, says he wants to bring a "new perspective" to the council by putting people at the heart of decision-making.
"Our aim is to include people and nature in all economic council decisions. Another Labour or Conservative councillor will not make a difference, Cranford has a sterling opportunity to vote in change," he said.
If elected, he says he will campaign to protect Cranford library from closure, work with the Cranford Park Friends group to secure funding for conservation, and resuscitate plans for a huge new park at Rectory Farm in exchange for gravel extraction.
He also wants to extend the opening times of public toilets to address the scourge of public urination, and says he will fight for a Cranford Tube station to be built between Hounslow West and Hatton Cross.
He is opposed to expansion of Heathrow and wants to defend the green belt and make London a National Park City.
He is also a strong supporter of the proposed London orbital railway, a sort of M25 on tracks, which would connect Cranford and Hounslow with other outer London boroughs.
Sukhbir Dhaliwal - Labour
Sukhbir Dhaliwal is a former Labour councillor, having represented Heston West from 2006-2010. The former bus driver lost his seat in the 2010 local election when he stood in Feltham North.
He says he is eager to work hard for the community he has been living in since 1975.
"I am standing to be a councillor as I am proud to call Cranford my home and would want to have an even larger positive impact on the development of the ward," he said.
"I will make sure that Hounslow Council will continue to deliver for Cranford residents and will campaign tirelessly against governmental cuts.”’
Mr Dhaliwal added that he wants to ensure more affordable and better quality housing is available for local residents and that road conditions will not affect people on a daily basis.
He has promised to push for better leisure facilities, like the recent £150,000 development of Avenue Park, and to work to increase the availability of parking places.
He also says he will ensure that antisocial behaviour enforcement teams are efficient and that residents can report any issues, ensuring a cleaner and safer Cranford.
Hina Malik - Liberal Democrats
Hina Malik claims to have been Pakistan's first female aeronautical engineer - an achievement she says earned her a personal invitation from then prime minister Benazir Bhutto to return to the country to work in the 1980s.
Since returning to the UK after a brief spell back in her native country, she has worked in a number of jobs, including as a supply chain manager for British Airways and a teacher at Cranford Primary School.
The mother-of-two, who has lived in Cranford for the last 16 years, now has her own PR firm, Hina Malik Limited, and works as a supply teacher.
She is a former Labour Party member and the ex-wife of Labour councillor Khulique Malik but says she switched her political allegiances because she thought the Liberal Democrats were better aligned with her liberal views.
Since joining the Lib Dems, one of the key issues on which she has campaigned is the right of parents to take their children out of school during term time so they can visit overseas relatives.
On a more local front, she is dedicated to improving facilities for young people in the neighbourhood, especially in the borough's parks.
"Children are on the streets in Cranford because there's not enough to engage them, and we need to do something about that," she said.
She also wants to see a social centre for local woman, where they can meet in a relaxed environment and seek help and advice if needed.
She backs a third runway at Heathrow, provided sufficient noise insulation can be provided for those homes affected. She believes the Government should help fund sound-proofing measures.
George Radulski - UKIP
George Radulski, a retired accountant living in Bedford Park, Chiswick, previously stood for UKIP at the Brentford by-election in July 2015.
If elected, he promises to campaign for more affordable housing and to act as an independent voice "holding Labour to account" when it comes to dealing with problems including uneven footpaths, dangerous junctions and antisocial behaviour by youths.
He has also pledged to make neighbourhoods safer by helping to tackle drugs, burglaries and vehicle crime, and by supporting neighbourhood watch and residents groups.
The keen sportsman and opera-lover opposes a third runway at Heathrow, which he said would not only increase noise, pollution and traffic but would also put further pressure on housing.
"I am a libertarian who believes in freedom from the state, low taxes and creating an environment where everyone, regardless of wealth, race, sex, ethnicity or class can progress to achieve their potential," he said.
Unsurprisingly, as a UKIP member he also promises to use his position to campaign for the UK to leave the UK when a referendum is held on the matter.
