Year: 2022

The BBC News website has today (Friday 19th August) published an article about Cineworld’s share price plunging on fears of its bankruptcy. The yet-to-open Picturehouse cinema on the new Ealing Filmwork’s site is part of the Cineworld empire. If Cineworld does go bankrupt what future for Ealing’s long-awaited cinema?

Interesting story in today’s papers about developers in Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow having been told it could take another 10 years before new homes can be connected to the electricity grid. According to the Greater London Authority one of the problems for west London is a series of planned date centres that use massive amounts of electricity. Apparently, one data centre can use as much power as 10,000 homes.

Later: In Monday’s (1st August) business pages there’s a story with more detailed information about the proliferation of data centres in west London. It seems about half on the country’s estimated 200 data centres are in the South East with a large number in the Reading to Ealing area. It goes on to say that there are seven outstanding applications for new data centres in Ealing.

So what next for planned developments in West Ealing such as on the old Woolworth’s site, the tower next to the new station, the Majestic Wine Warehouse site, Waitrose’s plans to build new homes on its site and so on?

John Lewis’ plans to build 10,000 homes to rent on its sites in the South East was written about in the press a few months ago. Now, according to an article in today’s business pages, one of those stores will be the one in West Ealing. The retailer is quoted as saying residents in the area will be invited to a public consultation over the coming months.

Later: There will be an public exhibition about the plans in West EAling Library on Friday 1st Juky 4-8pm and Saturday 2nd July 10am-2pm.

There are plans to demolish the existing parade on the corner of Mattock Lane and Churchfield Road (excluding the pharmacy) and replace it with new, modern shops and five flats on two floors above. To learn more about the plans and ask questions there is a webinar on Wednesday 15th June at 6.30pm. See below on how to register for the webinar.

Yes, the rumours of Lidl repalcing Wilko are true but not for some time yet. Wilko rents its site from Lidl and eventually Lidl will redevelop the site and take over the ground floor. However, none of this is happening soon as Wilko has another 2-3 years on its lease. Let’s hope that when it does have to move Wilko can find another site elsewhere in West Ealing.

After false starts and setbacks TfL has announced that Crossrail – the Elizabeth Line – will open in full on Tuesday May 24th.

Thanks to one of our WEN Facebook page posters for finding out that the bookswap shelves that were in the old ticket office will be getting new shelves and will return in the brand new station.

I can’t remember how many years ago Chris Gilson persuaded the staff at West Ealing station to host the bookswap project but it’s great news they will be back. Thousands of books must have been swapped over the years and now thousands more can be added. Some good news for once and let’s hope for many more years of discovery and enjoyable reading for everyone. And, lastly, a very big thank you to the man who used to work in the old ticket office for keeping the bookswap project alive.