Minutes of West Ealing Neighbours Committee meeting on Saturday 15th May at the Drayton Court Hotel

Present:

Gill Adams

Allison Franklin

Diane Gill

Nick Greenhalgh

David Highton

Eric Leach

Apologies:

Andrew Cazalet

Chris Gilson

Sally Greenbrook

Sarah Judic

1. Green Man Lane

The buildings along Singapore Road are being redesigned and lowered in height following criticism from CABE and the GLA. The new plans will go out for public consultation with the aim of going to the planning committee mid-July. WEN to make sure it puts in its comments.

WEN has been contacted by a resident who is unhappy with the valuation of her flat. David will put her in touch with one of the new Elthorne councillors.

WEN keen to know which Elthorne councillor/s will be involved with the GML plans.

David mentioned the GML history project and Allison suggested they contact the Playback Theatre group at the Questors about turning residents' reminiscences in to a play.

2. Lido Junction

The consultant's report is due in this summer and we need to keep in contact with the Council's transport team to make sure we are involved in the consultation over its proposals.

The road markings for the newly shortened bus lanes around the Lido Junction still need updating. David to contact the transport team about this.

3. Regeneration

Dean Gardens is almost complete and work is speeding up on Melbourne Avenue.

Nick West-Oram, the Council's regeneration officer for West Ealing, is leaving soon. Jeff Anderson will be our new contact.

4. Craft Market

The craft market group met recently and were not in favour of pursuing the market in Melbourne Avenue as it did not deal with our main concern which is the dead space in St James Ave and anti-social there. However, there will be a meeting with Nick West-Oram next week to hear his views and no final decision will be made until after this meeting.

A key part of any market should be to build in business development from the outset. The market should be a way for local people to use it, along with business advice from the Council, as a spring board to building/starting up a local business.

5. Arts Projects

A2Dominion is keen on the ideas WEN has put forward about using empty shops and the multi-storey car park for arts projects this summer.  A2Dominion are looking at possible shops to use and are in touch with the Council about access to the car park.

A project steering group has been set up.  It's chaired by Simon Hall of A2Dominion and on it are David Highton for WEN, local art student Jack Jones (who came up with the ideas), Ann Pavett of Ealing Arts and Crafts, Mandie Wilde of A2Dominion and Carmel Cahill/Ann Marie Charles of ECVS. Next meeting is 28th May.

Allison suggested a link to Ealing Photographic Society and maybe an photo exhibition documenting the GML before the development work starts.

6. Hanwell Carnival

Diane planning the Abundance stall and will draw up a rota for who to be there and when.  There will be a large map for people to plot fruit trees and we'll also ask for volunteers to help with the picking etc.

We'll also need a 1-page leafet about WEN and membership forms.

7. Abundance

A good meeting a few weeks ago with plenty of ideas for developing it.

The Northfield Ave allotments were discussed and recent stories that the EBCC is looking to sell them. EBCC have dropped any immediate plans to sell but appear open to offers.  What view will the new Labour administration have on the value of allotments and green space?

8. Book Club and Book Swap

Both doing well. Some 10 people at the last Book Club meeting which is encouraging.

The Book Swap shelves in the station remain well stocked and some complimentary comments about the idea on both the WEN and Ealing Today forums.

9. Catalyst Housing

We've heard from a few sources about problems people are having with Catalyst Housing. Catalyst Housing own property in central West Ealing. Some of the problems are at Park Royal. We need to monitor these problems.

10. Save Ealing's Centre

Dickens Yard judicial review still bogged down over whether the challenge can be brought by a local resident.

An interesting recent meeting with Nick O'Donnell of the Council transport dept about possible ideas for a transport hub at Ealing Broadway station. Concern remains that the issue will be ducked because it's seen to be too difficult to bring together all the parties involved.

11. Accounts

David to talk to Andy about what costs from last year we need to account for before signing off the accounts.

12. Date of next meeting

Saturday 12th June.