See what is being planned for Dickens Yard and our town centre

People who live, work and shop in Ealing are being urged to have their say on designs for a new retail and housing site which aims to transform and rejuvenate the town centre.

On Monday October 3, Ealing Council will begin a three-week consultation to ask people how they want Dickens Yard (jpeg) , a four-acre site behind the Town Hall, to look. The council will take these views on board before making a final decision in December.

Residents will be asked to comment on four different schemes . These are from the four developers invited by the council to bid to carry out the work. They were selected from an original list of 19 firms.

Councillor Liz Brookes, cabinet member for economic and social regeneration, said: "I can't stress enough how vital it is for people to give us their views on these designs. This is one of the biggest decisions the council will make in the next 10 years, and we need residents' input.

"This development will completely change the look and feel of the town centre.

"We have put a massive emphasis on the quality of design and the best use of space and we now have four exciting proposals to consider.

"Now it is up to you to tell us what you think and help shape Ealing's future."

An interactive public display of all four proposals will be held at the council's customer services centre, in Perceval House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing. These will include detailed computer-generated plans of what the developments could look like. The exhibition will be open during the customer services centre's opening hours.

There will also be two sessions at the centre for residents to meet the developers and council officers to discuss the proposals. These will be on Saturday October 8, from 10am-5pm and Wednesday October 12 from 6-9pm.

As well as the overall look of each of the schemes, the council will also have to consider a range of criteria. These include, for example, how each developer proposes to mix different types of use, such as housing and retail, and the financial viability of their bids.

The four submissions being considered by the council are from Barratt West London (jpeg) , Centros Miller (jpeg) , Helical Exemplar (jpeg)  and St George Plc (jpeg) .

Residents can give their views when they visit the exhibition in the customer services centre. Plans are also available to view in West Ealing library, opposite Sainsburys.

Alternatively, people can send their responses to the council's regeneration and major projects team (RAMP) in the following ways:

Email - ramp@ealing.gov.uk

Fax-   ( 020) 8825 5120

Telephone � 020 8825 6510

Post � Ramp, 3 rd Floor, Perceval House N/W, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London, W5 2HL.

September 30, 2005