Neighbours' Paper Returns to Ealing after Four-year Hiatus

First issue of the revived title examines 16 years of Labour in the borough

Cover of the 99th edition of the paper

March 12, 2026

After a four-year break, one of Ealing’s longest-running independent community publications has returned. Neighbours’ Paper — known for its tagline “Putting the People of Ealing First” — has published its first new issue since 2022, marking a renewed chapter for a title that has been part of the borough’s civic landscape for more than two decades.

The new edition, NP 99, is now available online and focuses on what the paper describes as Ealing Council’s “less than stellar performance” between 2010 and 2026. It offers a wide-ranging review of the Labour administration’s record during a period in which the party has held the overwhelming majority of the borough’s 70 council seats. The paper argues that such dominance by any political party risks creating a “one-party state” dynamic, where scrutiny is weakened and decision-making becomes one-sided. With local elections approaching on 7 May 2026, the publication suggests that change may be on the horizon.

Neighbours’ Paper first appeared in its current form in Spring 2004, though its roots stretch back further through earlier community newsletters and resident-led campaigns. Over the years it has become known for its detailed investigations into planning, development, council governance and local democracy. The paper has frequently highlighted issues that later became borough-wide talking points — from the redevelopment of Ealing Broadway and Southall to the future of local hospitals, libraries and green spaces.

For many residents, particularly those not online, it has served as an alternative source of information at a time when local newspapers have shrunk or disappeared.

The revived paper is now owned, published and edited by long-time Ealing resident and campaigner Eric Leach, a familiar figure in local civic life. Mr. Leach has been involved in community activism for more than 30 years, particularly around planning, heritage and public services. He has served on residents’ associations, contributed to neighbourhood forums, and played a prominent role in campaigns concerning Ealing Hospital, the redevelopment of central Ealing, and the preservation of local heritage assets. Hard copies are available and assistance with distribution is being sought.

NP 99 revisits many of the themes that have defined the paper’s past coverage including the council’s approach to major planning decisions, the impact of large-scale development on neighbourhood character and the effectiveness of public consultation.
• and the long-term consequences of political dominance by a single party

The full issue can be read here.