Year: 2021

West Ealing Neighbours received this press release from Friends of Victoria Hall (FoVH) about helping to fund their efforts to save Victoria Hall for community use rather than being absorbed into the plans for a boutique hotel in the town hall.

‘ The latest development in the five-year battle campaign to prevent Ealing’s Victoria Hall from becoming part of a luxury hotel is that FoVH is taking the Government’s Charity Commission to court to challenge its acquiescence in support of Ealing Council’s attempts to take over the property of the Victoria Hall Trust.

Tomorrow morning (22 July), to raise the money to pay for specialist legal advice, we’re launching a new crowdfunding campaign at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-victoria-hall/ 

Although we’ve done as much as we can to keep legal costs to a minimum, we’ve set ourselves a challenging target to raise £35,000.

To help us get there, an early response is important to inspire others to donate. I’d be grateful if you would make a donation as soon as possible after 9am on the 22nd. It doesn’t have to be a large amount, we need some early activity. (If you would like to donate a large amount, please contact me).

There are other ways you can help. If you use social media please share, retweet the posts that appear over the next few days on
https://www.facebook.com/VHFriends  and https://twitter.com/VhFriends

As well as publicity in local media we’re hoping to generate interest regionally and in the specialist press.

It’s clear that the Charity Commission hasn’t listened to the people of Ealing. It’s ignored hundreds of complaints from local people, over 4,000 signatures on two petitions and detailed submissions from a dozen community organisations.

By rendering the Hall unaffordable, impractical, and unavailable at weekends, the ill-conceived Council scheme would bring to an end to the Hall as the centre of community life in Ealing, easily accessible from all parts of the Borough.

We don’t think that’s right.

I hope you agree and will put time aside tomorrow or over the next few days to show your support at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-the-victoria-hall/‘

The Council’s plans for 26-storeys at Perceval House have got the final green light as the Secretary of State has declined to intervene.

Ealing Council’s final vote on the future of LTNs is now open. It is important as many residents and businesses as possible vote so the Council gets the most accurate information it can on whether or not to make permanent any of the current eight LTNs. (The West Ealing South LTN21 was stopped when Hounslow Council closed Swyncombe Ave for road works) There is a separate vote for each LTN. Here is the link to the Council’s page with the links to each LTN vote. Deadline to vote is Friday 23rd July.

We have covered this story over the past couple of years from the early fight to save it from the QPR training ground plans to the current efforts to have it designated a nature reserve. This is the latest press release from the Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign:

29 June 2021

‘The petition to designate Warren Farm in Ealing, West London, as a Local Nature Reserve has been signed by over 10,000 people, less than 6 months after it was launched. The growing support for the proposal was recognised by the new Ealing Council Leader Peter Mason who met with campaigners on Warren Farm last month to discuss the future of the site.  

The proposal to designate Warren Farm and surrounding meadows by the River Brent as a statutory Local Nature Reserve (LNR), was developed by the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS), which – under its founder Luke Fitzherbert – campaigned successfully to create the Brent River Park (BRP) in the 1970s. The Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign group was launched in January of this year.

Since Ealing Council stopped using Warren Farm as a sports facility, the meadows have rewilded and now form a unique urban grassland. Species of birds, mammals, plants, reptiles and insects – which are rare in London – have been recorded thriving on the land. This proposal would preserve the meadows for future generations and ensure the protection of its rare and endangered species such as the Skylark, a red-listed bird facing UK extinction. 

The BRCS and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign, which was initially inspired by young conservationist Kabir Kaul, has also gained the backing of some prominent environmental campaigners, such as Lord Randall of Uxbridge, forensic botanist Mark A Spencer, Barn Owl Trust, West London Ramblers and London National Park City. The inclusion of Warren Farm in CPRE London’s ‘Ten New Parks’ campaign recently featured on a BBC London news report.

With councils across London facing challenging biodiversity net gain targets, areas like Warren Farm have assumed a critical importance. It is highly unlikely that Ealing Council would achieve its climate emergency goals if this species-rich site were to be developed. 

BRCS Trustee and campaign organiser Katie Boyles commented:

“We are absolutely delighted to have achieved 10,000 signatures on our petition within 6 months of starting the campaign. London has just half the green space it needs for a population of its size. Lockdown has opened peoples’ eyes to the importance of local nature and it is clear from the huge level of support we are receiving that residents want to see green spaces like Warren Farm protected.

We were recently invited on a walk around Warren Farm with Peter Mason. Together we discussed the possibility of some limited sporting usage, but our position remains that our rewilded meadow must be left to nature.

We simply cannot afford to lose this vast wildflower habitat. The biodiversity loss would be catastrophic for Ealing. We have plant species recorded growing here that are facing UK extinction and our proposal fulfils goals set within the council’s own policies in their Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy. We are in conversation with the council and this is how change begins. Now it’s over to the Leader of Ealing Council and the Mayor of London to make this happen.”

BRCS trustee and local naturalist Phil Belman said:

“We have asked Peter Mason to initiate those aspects of our Vision which do not depend on any decision on sport. This includes completing Local Nature Reserve procedures for the Brent River Park Meadows, already approved by councillors, improving public access and signage at Warren Farm, starting LNR negotiations with adjacent landowners and bringing in new byelaws.

Councillor Mason has committed to deliver Ealing Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and new Biodiversity Action Plan. The BRCS Vision is an acid test of his leadership and good intentions, and we expect him to take this opportunity to deliver actions, not just words.

The people of Ealing want our politicians to do the right thing and save the meadows of Warren Farm for future generations to enjoy. 10,000 people wait to hear.’

www.WarrenFarmNatureReserve.co.uk

West Ealing Neighbours is working with Ealing Council to see if we can take back forgotten and neglected green spaces and turn them into little jewels. This is a chance for local residents to take control and make a difference to their neighbourhood. It will only happen with your help, your enthusiasm and commitment. Can you spare a little time to help us?

The neglected green spaces so far identified that could be transformed are:
1. Singapore Road junction with Eccleston Road
2. Alexandria Road to left of Waitrose entrance
3. Leeland Terrace by junction with Seaford Road
4. Leeland Terrace south side verge running east from St James Avenue towards Melbourne Avenue
5. Leeland Terrace verge south side of St James Church
6. Canberra Road verge north side of St James Church

How can we transform these spaces? It’s up to residents to decide. We can clean away the rubbish, cut back old and dead wood, use artwork, plant bulbs, plant trees and shrubs. It’s up to you. We can start on these over the summer.  If you’re interested to get involved and help transform one of these spaces we’d love to hear from you by 31^st July. Our email is westealingneighbours@gmail.com.

Date: 26 June
Time: 3pm and 6pm
Venue: OPEN Ealing

Address: OPEN Ealing Arts Centre, Unit 14 School Ln, Dickens Yard, London W5 2TD

Tickets: £10 Children (£7 Adults) includes all workshop materials​

Legend has it that King Arthur will return when Britain needs him the most. That time is now! Join King Arthur and the wizard Merlin as they return to the unfamiliar Britain of today, battling fearsome enemies like the steel monsters known as ‘cars’, explore the underground caves of ‘the tube’ and come face to face with the terrifying rail dragon that bears the name of the Flying Scotsman! But they soon find that this Britain is not entirely different. People still need a hero, and now Arthur must assemble his new ‘Knights of the round table’! Join us on this wonderful adventure!

There will be a workshop following the play!

Tickets:

https://openealing.com/the-return-of-king-arthur-by-a-wonderful-adventure/

Website: www.awonderfuladventure.co.uk

Following Hounslow Council’s decision to close Swyncombe Ave for two months for road works Ealing Council has decided this makes LTN21 unworkable. As a result, it will dismantle all the road blocks over this weekend (22/23 may) and restore the area to how it was previously.

Ealing Council plans to consult on some areas of LTN21 which local residnets say are successful. The new Council leader Peter Mason has said all the remaining LTNs will be subject to a CPZ style consultation for a vote for residents vto say if LTNs will work for their neighbourhood.

Ealing Council’s website has the full statement and a video of Peter Mason announcing the LTN changes is here.

We have received this from Save Ealing’s Centre:

‘On March 31^st Ealing’s Council’s planning committee approved the plans to redevelop the Council’s Perceval House offices and build a 26 storey tower. London Borough of Ealing  needs the Mayor’s approval to proceed. Sadiq will decide on Monday May 23rd.  He can ‘call in’ the plans for a public hearing for everyone to have their say.  We have a week to persuade him that he should listen to the views of everyone who objected so strongly against it.

ACT NOW TO MAKE HIM LISTEN.

Write today to Jules Pipe, the Mayor’s deputy for planning – jules.pipe@london.gov.uk – to ask for a public hearing. You can use this model letter:

Dear Sadiq,

Please listen to local people.

At an unscheduled meeting during the pre-election period Ealing Council’s planning committee approved plans to replace its Perceval House offices with new offices and a 26 storey tower. If the scheme goes ahead it will cause untold harm to local communities and destroy the character of our own centre. As a partner of the developers, the Council has serious conflicts of interest in the plans. This has led it to ignore over 2300 objections from the community. Please listen to local people and call in the plans so that they can be properly considered at a public hearing at which all sides can have their say.

You can add other points to highlight your particular objections. These could include:

• The 26-storey tower would be unacceptably high in a suburban location.
• It would dominate nearby listed buildings including the recently restored Grade 1 Pitzhanger Manor.
• The character of Ealing would be seriously harmed.
• The tower will take light from hundreds of homes.
• The proposal is mainly for one or two bedroomed flats, not suitable for families
• Built on public land more than 50% of the new homes should be affordable
• There would be very little play space for families
• Ealing Council no longer even needs the new offices it plans to build
• There is no need for new shop units when Dickens Yard sites remain empty.
• High polluting construction traffic will be using residential streets for years
• Redeveloping Perceval House which is less than 40 years old is not sustainable environmental

Please copy what you say into the GLA’s comments page.

Thank You from Save Ealing’s Centre group’

The interim results from the CAMTAG (Coldershaw and Midhurst Traffic Action Group) survey of LTN 21 – the West Ealing area south of the Uxbridge Road indicate opposition is still strong. CAMTAG distributed 5807 leaflets and of the 1360 responses 78% wanted the LTN removed and 19% wanted it to stay.

CAMTAG will be looking at comments from the residents who participated in this survey and use these in developing the full survey for the summer.

WEN will publicise the full survey as soon as we have the details and will urge everyone to take part in order to get the most accurate possible picture of residents’ views on LTN 21.

There’s more on this story on the Ealing Today website.