2011 July » West Ealing Neighbours Blog

Demolition of Sherwood Close Estate gets closer

Local Development Framework 1 Response »

Jul 312011

209 homes built and maintained by Ealing Council make up this estate. Many of the homes are what we used to call council houses but some are privately owned. The estate fills almost four acres and is bounded to the north by Tawny Close, to the west by Seaford Road and to the south and east by Sherwood Close/Northfield Avenue. The Council, effectively, admits it designed and built an inadequate estate and has failed to maintain it properly. Now it wants to knock it down. We’ve heard all this before at Green Man Lane Estate and at Copley Close. (For reasons not immediately apparent the Council has abandoned its current plans for Copley Close). The Council says that it’s consulted the Dean Gardens Estate residents who say they want the estate demolished and a new estate built. The Council pulled this stunt with GMLE residents. What is now being built [...]

Would you like to come Blackberry Picking on Sunday 7th August?

Abundance No Responses »

Jul 302011

Hi all volunteers There are plenty of early blackberries about it seems and it looks as though we should be able to have an inaugural pick on Sunday August 7 at 7pm. We’ll meet at Mayfield School, High Lane, Hanwell, W7 3RT and set off about 7.15. We will almost certainly pick again – but we’ll decide on the exact date after this Sunday. We’ll bring some tupperware to collect the blackberry donations for WEN, but bring your own, too, so you can take some home. Let’s hope the weather stays fine! Gill/Diane

New plans for 51 Drayton Green exhibited

Eric Leach, Local Development Framework No Responses »

Jul 262011

St Helena’s Home at 51 Drayton Green has now been completely demolished and the rubble removed. Now the land owners – Notting Hill Housing (NHH) – want to try again and design a residential development which not only Ealing Council Planners will accept but hopefully local residents, the church and school next door will be happy with. An exhibition is being mounted by NHH at the next door International Presbyterian Church (53 Drayton Green) on Thursday 4th August from 4:30pm to 8:00pm. The plans feature a less dense residential development than has been proposed prevously. NHH’s first proposal a few years ago was for 91 homes and its current ‘Pending’ application with Ealing Council is for 31 homes. The new plans are for 21 new homes – 17 flats and 4 houses. The letter circulated to local residents tells us that ‘the proposed development will improve the appearance of the [...]

Rural Ealing in July + blackberries nearly there

Abundance, Community, Food, Gill Adams, West Ealing Events No Responses »

Jul 232011

Rural Ealing in July + blackberries nearly there

I just went to check the blackberries in the bunny park – and got some lovely photos of rural Ealing – the blackberries aren’t far off ready (another couple of weeks till the Big Pick -if you’re interested in getting involved in this community activity and maybe subsequent cooking, email wenabundance@gmail.com). Anyway, thought you might like the pix (click images to enlarge).

It’s about the apples and pears: more history of West Ealing street names

Local history No Responses »

Jul 232011

It's about the apples and pears: more history of West Ealing street names

Local historian David Shailes continues his look at the history of West Ealing’s street names. It should come as no surprise that many of our names have royal connections, partly for patriotic reasons but also reflective of the fact that Duke of of Kent (1767 -1820) Edward Augustus, father of Queen Victoria lived at Castle Hill Lodge from 1801-12. A replacement house was built in 1845 and a small part still exists and is now occupied by St David’s Home. So we have Kent Gardens, Regina Road/Terrace and Victoria Road/ Cumberland Road in W5/W7.

The Grim Reaper could soon be in charge of Ealing’s heritage

Eric Leach, Local Development Framework, Local history, Public services No Responses »

Jul 222011

Last night I attended the first Ealing Council LDF Advisory Committee Meeting. The Local Development Framework is our National Government’s ‘vehicle’ for Local Authorities to define their preferred use of land within their borders for the next 15 years. Attendees attending the meeting who were allowed to speak were seven Councillors and a handful of Council Officers. I was one of a precious, small group of residents who were invited to attend as observers. It reminded me of attending a lap dancing club where you could watch the girls ‘dance’, but you were not allowed to touch them. Chairing the meeting was Leader of the Council Councillor Julian Bell. He was on his first day of holiday from his day job at The Houses of Parliament.

Sell out last night for premiere of Opera Viscera’s Narcissus and Echo at OPEN Ealing

Community, David Highton, West Ealing Events 2 Responses »

Jul 212011

Sell out last night for premiere of Opera Viscera's Narcissus and Echo at OPEN Ealing

The first floor studio at OPEN Ealing was absolutely packed last night with over 100 people coming for the premiere of Opera Viscera’s Narcissus and Echo. I make no claim at all to be able to write a review of the opera’s music and song but having managed to squeeze in right at the back I do know I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and did not find myself fidgeting or looking at my watch. Without doubt it was what I would call a modern opera so some sharp edges and notes but totally listenable to and watchable. The sustained applause at the end said it all for me and talking afterwards to people who do know about opera the verdict was one of universal approval for a thoroughly well written and professional production. And from one high note to another, if I put my OPEN Ealing hat on, I can honestly say [...]

Calling everyone who lives and works in West Ealing – would you like to have your portrait painted?

David Highton 3 Responses »

Jul 202011

Calling everyone who lives and works in West Ealing - would you like to have your portrait painted?

Local artist Nadja Gabriela Plein is working on a series of portraits of people who live and work in Ealing. She is looking for people willing to sit for her in her studio at OPEN Ealing on the Uxbridge Road. The pictures will be shown in an exhibition early next year. Everyone she paints will be given a free photograph of their portrait. Anyone interested in sitting for a portrait please contact Nadja at nadjagabrielaplein@yahoo.co.uk .. You can see Nadja’s work at www.nadjagabrielaplein.co.uk David Highton

Local picture framing with a difference

Community, David Highton 1 Response »

Jul 192011

I’ve been meaning to write this up for a while so have finally managed it. If you’re ever looking for someone to frame your pictures keep in mind an outfit called Accession. Accession is a local social enterprise that works with highly marginalised long-term unemployed people. So, for example, their picture framing unit is based down at the West London Mental Health unit near Ealing Hospital. One of our artists at OPEN Ealing uses them regularly and says they are good quality and excellent value which sounds good to me. You can find out more about Accession at http://www.accessionpartnership.com/ David Highton

Time to turn on the power: West Ealing street traders still without power

David Highton, West Ealing Shopping No Responses »

Jul 182011

Time to turn on the power: West Ealing street traders still without power

For well over a year, probably even two, the stalls in the weekly farmers’ market have been waiting to plug in their lights and equipment to the specially installed power points in Leeland Road. Some years back when Leeland Road was smartened up with new pavements power points were installed in some of the street bollards. The trouble is, so I’m reliably informed, the last time someone from the Council turned up to give access to these power points, which was some months ago, they had the wrong key and so this dismal saga still drags on. On top of this, almost 18 months ago, the Walpole Ward Forum agreed to set aside about £10,000 to pay for power points in Melbourne Avenue for the traders there to use. As with Leeland Road the traders were more than happy to pay for the power they use but, as yet, almost a year after the completion of [...]

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