1.Police
The new Met Police service Met Engage https://www.metengage.co.uk/ is worth signing up for.
There will soon be no police station open overnight in the borough. Councillors urger to lobby police to change this and keep one open.
2.West Ealing Action Group
Laura McLean, Area Manager, Regeneration, Investment and Jobs at Ealing Council gave a presentation.
Ealing one of 12 boroughs to get £50k funding for High Street Place Labs. The aim of this project is to improve the high street over the next three years including:
- repurposing empty shops and buildings
- improving ‘back street connections’ that link areas together eg Canberra Road, Melbourne Avenue, Walsingham Road etc
- Developing the night time economy
Two meetings of local stakeholders have been held so far and the third is tomorrow (Tuesday 17th March).
3.Your Voice Your Town
A Council initiative, following the end of ward forums, to encourage community involvement in local decision making. Each of the borough’s seven towns has a budget for grants to local projects. Also, a mechanism for residents to have say in how some of the Community Infrastructure Levy money will be spent in their area.
4.Lammas Park
This remains a controversial issue with some residents. Cllr Driscoll explained the current situation and defended the creation of a wetland in the park as part of the overall scheme. The temporary fencing around the area will come down soon but it will be kept around the newly planted areas.
5.Pear Tree Park
A newly created park as part of the West London Regional Parks Corridor (see slides on this).
6.West Ealing Community Library
Catherine Fitzgibbon ran through the wide range of activities now available at the library. The library is looking for volunteers to help keep it open from 5-7pm in May and June for students to study for their exams. Anyone interested please email friends@wecl.org.uk
The library is run by West Ealing Community CIC, a not-for-profit organisation. It is close to signing a Licence to Occupy with the Council. It has also strengthened its governance with some new directors.
There will be a Community Library Spring Party on Saturday 25th April.
7.Development Sites
Dean Gardens
The half-complete buildings will be demolished following the bankruptcy of the original builders – Henry. The Council’s insurance covers a small part of the cost of this.
Green Man Lane
A2Dominion are closing in on appointing a new contractor following Rydon going out of business.
Gurnell Leisure Centre
Concerns raised about due diligence on the Council’s preferred partner Vistry.
There will be a high percentage of affordable housing in the 300 flats proposed for this site.
£3million will be spent to de-risk the site prior to the new leisure centre being built.
Kwik Fit
A private development so the Council can only encourage the developer Luxgrove to get started.
TIDE – Hastings Road
Work on the planned 400 plus student homes has now commenced.
Manor Road
Still concerns over traffic management on this site next to the station. The Council will follow up with the developers on these concerns.
St James Ave
Another Luxgrove development. Work yet to start on the planned HMOs
Waitrose
Although the John Lewis Partnership has pulled out of its plan for rental homes on this site, it is still pursuing its planning application and may seek to sell this on to a developer. Given the timing of this application it will now include a CIL contribution to improving local infrastructure.
Woolworths
Also a Luxgrove development.
Sherwood Close
Concerns raised about the quality of some of the new buildings, especially over locks to stop intruders.
Work started on the private housing site close to Northfield Avenue.
8.Felix Project
This charity collects and distributes surplus fresh food to food banks, charities etc. It distributed 18,000 tonnes last year.
9.Dean Gardens
Needs some cleaning up.
10.Hanwell Carnival
London’s oldest carnival is back in 2026 0n Saturday 20th June. Volunteers are welcome and details on their website –https://hanwellcarnival.co.uk/
11.West Ealing Station Elizabeth Line
Disappointment that the additional trains on this line will not be stopping at West Ealing given its planned population growth over the next few years.
12.School Streets
Questions asked about the effectiveness of School Streets given over 250,000 Penalty Charge Notices issues since 2020.
13.Road Works A lot of disruption in West Ealing caused by road works at the start of this year. The Council is looking at ways to improve this including plans for lane rental charges