Minutes of Committee Meeting of West Ealing Neighbours - 8th March 2008
Present: Andrew Cazelet - AC David Highton - DH Eric Leach - EL Gill Adams - GA Emma Hunter - EH
Apologies: Diane Gill Nick Greenhalgh Frank Proud Allan Soper
1. Regeneration Of West Ealing DH reported on the close on £2 million grant for improving West Ealing recently announced by the Council. It includes: £500,000 to improve shop fronts and displays £295,000 to support local businesses £500,000 to improve the attractiveness of West Ealing and on which the Council will consult residents and traders £500,000 to improve roads at the back of shops including Singapore Road £100,000 to gate alleys £50,000 towards better street lights, pavement repairs, pruning trees etc
DH to find out about the nature and timing of the consultation process for the £500,000. In addition, there is also the Showcase Streets programme which will improve Leeland Rd, Leeland Terrace, Canberra Rd, Melbourne Ave and St James Ave. Work on Leeland Rd starts next week. EL said he had asked Cllr Ann Chapman for an update on the proposed stop and shop parking spaces in Leeland Terrace. She replied that these are awaiting funding so no definite date yet. DH stressed the importance of pressing the Council for some significant structural improvements and many of these should be included in the regeneration of the Green Man Estate. Improvements such as a community hall, a ‘front desk' police presence, and adequate pay on exit car parking. 2. Save Ealing's Centre With Mayor Livingstone's criticism of the Arcadia plans Glenkerrin have said they will re-work their plans. One of the major criticisms from the Mayor's office was the complete failure to address the needs for a modern transport hub at Ealing Broadway station and the need for Ealing Council to have a proper overall town plan in place so that any developments can be judged against this plan. Glenkerrin may decide on other options such as to sell off their land and withdraw from the project. The St George's planning application for Dicken's Yard is with the Council but is not yet in the public domain. The plans include some taller buildings - 15 storeys- than previously indicated. EL reported that SEC are now working on a vision for the future look and nature of Ealing Broadway. The meeting agreed now was the time to put forward a positive view following on from the criticism of the Glenkerrin plans. EL mentioned the interesting example of Southwark Council which had lost confidence in the potential developers for a 100-acre plot and decided to take control themselves to ensure a top quality development. 3. CCTV Cameras DH reported on the Council's plans to use CCTV to enforce the parking regulations at Northfields and South Ealing Stations. He suggested WEN writes to the Council expressing its view that there is not a problem at Northfields Station so why is there a need for CCTV? In addition, WEN will back the call for changing the defunct loading bay close to the station to a stop and drop area. WEN expressed its concern at the seemingly punitive advert in the local press about the use of CCTV to enforce parking regulations and would welcome an equivalent effort to let people know exactly when and where they can drop off and collect people in the vicinity of stations, including Ealing Broadway. WEN fully accepts the importance of trying to persuade people to stop using cars but equally recognises that many people have genuine reasons to use their cars to take people to and from the stations and there should be proper facilities to enable this. 4. SEAL SEAL is working constructively with the Council to implement the recently announced (and much welcomed) Heritage Quarter. The hope is to preserve as many Edwardian lampposts as possible. English Heritage has offered to pay for a trial to see which are the best lamps for the refurbished lampposts and what is the right spacing of the posts. EL said EDF Energy is selling off its street lighting PFI contracts and Southern Electricity will take on the contract for Ealing. 5. Ealing Dean CPZ This is being implemented over the next two months. There are still questions to be resolved about the arrangements for Mattock Lane Pharmacy. 6. Lido Junction Traffic Review DH explained that WEN is one of the residents groups being consulted before the plans go for a wider consultation. The consensus was that we should ask for an explanation of the thinking and restrictions behind these plans. For example, there are no additional light controlled crossings at the Lido Junction. Is this because TfL won't allow them or is there another reason. A vital element of the review was to improve the safety for pedestrians at this junction. There are a few suggestions but no new light controlled crossings so people will still have to take their chance and go for it. DH will coordinate WEN's response. 7. Jacob's Ladder DH said he is still waiting for a detailed reply from Network Rail 8. Abundance Project GA and DG will visit the Boston Manor kitchen on March 22nd. The plan is to set up a preserving demonstration and produce some recipes to give away. September is the key time for making jam, chutneys etc so we will need to be organised for picking spare and unwanted fruit. 9. Waitrose and Sainsbury's DH to ask Nick Abel at Waitrose about progress with the fence and blinds. Sainsbury's has written a not very helpful reply about their trolleys continuing to litter local streets. DH to ask the store manager for an update and, depending on reply, we will contact the Council about what they may be able to do to help resolve this problem. GA raised the question of how best WEN can help reduce the use of plastic bags? She has not yet been able to find a reasonably priced supply of cotton/canvas bags which we can then put our logo on and sell locally. 10. Membership Now 253 members 11. Annual Accounts AC said he is completing our accounts for 2007/8. 12. Ward Forums DH said with the move to ward forums we will need to organise a way for WEN to have a member at each of the five for West Ealing. 13. Crossrail DH mentioned the Transport and Environment Scrutiny Panel papers which include one on post-tram plans for buses and the need for car drop-off points at Crossrail stations. WEN needs to start lobbying for a drop-off point for West Ealing station. Date of next meeting Wednesday 9th April 8pm. |
