Number of new coronavirus cases rises in Ealing
In the week ending 14 August 2020 there were 33 new Covid-19 cases in Ealing and in the week ending 21 August 2020 there were 50. This is higher than in surrounding boroughs:
Hillingdon 44, Harrow 30, Hounslow 30, Hammersmith & Fulham 24 and Brent 23.
To put UK Covid-19 deaths in a global context, the UK has more Covid-19 deaths than any country in Europe and any country in the G7.
Ealing Council Leader Claims a Covid-19 Response £30 million Hole in Ealing Council Finances Writing on the London Councils web site (www.londoncouncils.gov.uk) Councillor Julian Bell pleads with the Government to improve on its 40% contribution to Local Authority (LA) Covid-19 response costs. However he doesn’t lead on this. He leads on pleading for a positive, ‘green’ recovery. ‘Active travel’ is what he preaches. A big part of this is implementing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). LTNs have yet to be fully implemented, but an anti-LTN petition has already attracted 4,800 signatures. Early results from West Ealing Neighbours first LTN research exercise shows a 69% opposition to LTN 21 plans. There was complete chaos throughout West Ealing when the 11 road blocks were installed on 26 August 2020.
Although LTNs are Government policy LAs are not bound to create them. Harrow Council, for example, recently abandoned its LTN plans. Could LTNs be this administration’s West London Tram? This 2003 -2007 unpopular and ultimately abortive project was heavily Labour backed and opposed by the Conservatives. Many claim the Conservative victory at the 2006 Council elections hinged on the hugely resident-opposed Tram.
Pitzhanger Museum and Gallery to Re-open on 10 September 2020
Having been Covid-19 response closed since March 2020, it will re-open initially 11am to 7pm Thursday to Sunday each week. The attraction will the postponed ‘Hogarth Voices, Hogarth Lives’ exhibition. You need to book a ticket to attend.
Does Anyone Still Believe TfL’s Guesses at a Crossrail Completion Date and Final Cost Figure?
First it was December 2018, then it was Summer 2020. Now it’s 2022. Oh and the project wants another £450 million right now. The original Crossrail budget was £15.9 billion. The current budget is £18.25 billion, but it’s possible it could now cost an additional £1.1 billion to complete it.
None of the new stations at Acton Mainline, Ealing Broadway, Southall and West Ealing have been completed. As for the public realm changes outside the new stations, Ealing Council has published few up to date plans and no-one seems to know when whatever changes might be implemented. And precisely what is the point of 9 carriage main line trains passing through Ealing with hardly any passengers on board?
Acton to East London ‘Super Sewer’ is Over Budget and Behind Schedule
The Thames Tideway Tunnel runs largely under the tidal section of the River Thames. It will capture, store and convey raw sewage and rainwater that currently overflows into the Thames. First conceived in 2005 with major tunnelling work commencing in 2018, the almost 26 foot diameter tunnel will run for 15.5 miles. The tunnel starts in Acton and runs under central London to the Abbey Mills Pumping Station in East London, and there is southern spur that terminates at Greenwich. The original budget was £3.5 billion with a completion date of 2024. Now, with Covid-19 mentioned in despatches, it’s £4.133 billion and 2025.
Residents Start Collecting Their Own LTN Data
Covid-19 response Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) are currently being installed in Ealing. The Council has written/will write to all those residents to be impacted:
‘The purpose of this (making temporary changes to your streets) is to provide safe space for pedestrians and cyclists’.
The ‘Ealing Residents against Low Traffic Neighbourhoods‘ group carried out its pre-LTN exercise of measuring current traffic and cycling volumes on 25 August 2020. The group also has an anti-LTN petition. Over 4,900 had signed by 25 August 2020.
On 25 August 2020 West Ealing Neighbours launched its first residents’ survey on LTN 21. As at 26 August 2020, 69% of the 408 respondents were extremely negative about LTN 21.
Eric Leach
eric.alan.leach@gmail.com
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August 27, 2020
