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Is it a warm welcome for the black and orange mobikes?

The mobikes with their distinctive livery of orange and black have suddenly started appearing all across Ealing. They arrived in St James Ave West Ealing at the end of last week.

Mobikes, owned by Beijing Mobike  Technology Company, are very popular in China.  I can personally vouch for their popularity In Shanghai where bicycle riders seem to make no difference between roads and pavements!.

The idea of having lots of bikes available to hire is a great idea and they make good use of modern technology. However, a key question is whether users will return them to designated places or leave them dotted about the streets?  Time will tell.

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West Ealing successful in bid for TfL’s Liveable Neighbourhood fund

Some of you may remember filling out a brief online questionnaire from Ealing Council a few weeks ago which asked questions about what would make West Ealing a better place in which to live. The survey was in aid of a Council bid for significant funds from TfL’s Liveable Neighbourhood Fund.

Good news is West Ealing is one of the seven winners of the first round of funding, Ealing Council has secured funding to further develop its proposals.  These proposals include better conditions for walking and cycling, changes to the town centre to make it more attractive and less dominated by cars.  Also included in the Council’s bid is a plan to redesign Dean Gardens  – using the exact same plan that was produced as the result of a concerted effort by a group of local stakeholders including West Ealing Neighbours and other residents’ groups, faith groups, West Ealing BID, Clarion and other local housing associations, the Council, the police and others.  This is the plan that can be seen here. 

Congratulations to Ealing Council for all their hard work and I very much hope that for this next stage the proposal will be developed with the local community so that it will be one which truly represents the wishes of local people. We want to see a plan we can all  fully support as it has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for many, many West Ealing residents.

 

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Will the West Ealing CPZ be bad for business?

Monday saw the start of the month long work to implement the West Ealing CPZ.  The first white lines were marked out in Coldershaw Road. However, there is some concern that local traders may lose out because the plans include switching some 19 stop and shop bays along Coldershaw Rd, Canberra Rd and Leeland Terrace to shared use.  The stop and shop bays will be confined to Leeland Rd and the car parking behind and beside the library. On the face of it this seems to mean fewer short-term bays (usually 30 minutes) for people coming to shop in West Ealing as these 19 bays could be used by long and short stay visitors as well as permit holders.  Will this change from stop and shop to shared use affect local businesses?  Will shoppers not bother trying to park in West Ealing and take their trade elsewhere?

23rd November

Worth taking a look at this local internet tv interview about the legality and impact on businesses of the West Ealing CPZ

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Plans to expand Hindu temple in Chapel Road West Ealing

The Hindu Temple in Chapel Road ( Shri Kanaga Thurkkai Amman) has submitted an application to Ealing Council to construct a permanent building to replace the existing marquee on its site.  The new building would have a basement, ground and first floor and one of its functions would be as a meditation hall.  The temple is well known locally for its hugely popular and colourful annual Chariot Festival each August.

What is of concern to some local residents is the impact on parking and congestion in what is already a highly congested area.  Chapel Road is a very narrow street and is frequently heavily parked up with worshippers at this busy temple.

If you live nearby do please take a look at the Council’s website for more information about these plans.  Hopefully this link will take you to the planning search page and the reference number is 177615FUL.  The Ealing Dean Residents’ Association is opposing these plans.

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Comments welcome on initial design for green space near Sainsbury’s

Following local residents’ concerns about the problems caused by all the pigeons on this patch of grass, the Council has put forward an initial plan for redesigning this grass area on the corner of Melbourne Ave and Leeland Terrace. It’s worth knowing that part of the design will be to include permanent notices asking people not to feed the pigeons.

They are looking for feedback from residents so your comments are welcome. My initial reaction is that there is too much open space and it needs more plants but others may think differently. You can email your comments to us at westealingneighbours@gmail.com or leave them here.

 

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Making Melbourne Avenue a nicer place for the community

A big thanks to Dean from Jeff’s Flower stall.  Dean spent Sunday morning cleaning out all the rubbish from the circular planter/bench by his stall at the top of Melbourne Ave. It was full of discarded cans, food wrappers and more and looked very sorry for itself. It’s been transformed with a some hard work and bags of bark (WEN paid for the bark) and now looks much better and so much more pleasant for the many, many people who sit there throughout the day.

Our aim is to work with the Council to revive all the planting in the benches in Melbourne Ave in time for our Christmas Fair on Saturday 9th December. We may need some help from the community to do this. We’ll let you know more as soon as we can.

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Watermans Arts Centre seeks funds to become a world-class venue

Barely a couple of miles away from West Ealing, Watermans Arts Centre has occupied its riverfront site in Brentford for over 30-years.  It is now looking to re-locate and make a step change in what it’s able to offer and create an artistic and social hub for West London. To achieve this ambition it needs to raise £6 million – no small task.  It needs our help in supporting their efforts.  Their press release says:

‘If you would like to see a world-class artistic programme, a community hub like no other in West London and an independently run social enterprise investing back into the community, please join our campaign for a World Class Watermans and share your support and comments.

Please write to us or post on social media stating your support or point of view:

Email us at WorldClass@watermans.org.uk

Post on social media using the hashtag #WorldClassWatermans @WatermansArts ‘

You can read the full release via this link
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Give your views and help secure funding for a healthier and more attractive West Ealing

The Council wants to hear your views in support of a bid for funds from TfL’s Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme. The scheme is about delivering attractive and healthy neighbourhoods for residents -in this case residents of West Ealing. It includes improving conditions for walking, cycling and leisure with the aim of improving local air quality and the social and economic vitality of West Ealing.

This is a great opportunity for West Ealing and fits really well with the plan WEN and other local stakeholders helped to draw up to improve Dean Gardens – the plan is  here

Dean Gardens is just one aspect of the improvements that could be made if this bid is successful. Time is a bit short as the deadline is Friday 6th October so the more people who complete the online questionnaire the more helpful it is for the Council in its bid. The questionnaire is available here