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Dr Onkar Sahota's application in Haven Green rejected

Neighbours are celebrating after a building application for a 128 year old house in Ealing's Haven Green Conservation area was thrown out at committee last night (Wednesday 13th March)The substantial property on Castlebar Road - bordering Longfield Walk was bought in 2011 for £1.4million by Ealing and Hillingdon GLA representative Dr Onkar Sahota.He wanted to add a basement, extend the house both sideways and to the rear and add a glass roof.Over a hundred people objected to the plans, claiming the proposals were highly detrimental to the area.Last night - despite the application being recommended for approval by Ealing Council planners - a committee of Councillors rejected it.10 voted against the proposed development, none for and there were three abstentions. Councillors were particularly unhappy with the glass roof extension which they described as looking like a glass 'roof box'.Liberal Democrat Councillor, Nigel Bakhai, voted against the application. He said: '' The plans were out of character with the Haven Green Conservation Area and I could not support officer's recommendation to approve.'' Victor Mishiku, who has been heading the local campaign says he used his 27 years' experience of planning issues to help local residents.He is appalled by the whole procedure, claiming planners 'ruthlessly' tried to push through this application and adds: '' Is Ealing Council Planning Department "fit for purpose"?  The 43 Castlebar Road case attracted comments from the Committee that the report was poorly written, absurd, in defiance of reality, insulting (to the intelligence) and part of the proposal was described as "disgraceful" and resulting in the glass box roof extension making the top roof part of the development being "lit up like a Xmas Tree''.Next door neighbour Judy Jaafar says: '' I and others will be writing formal letters of complaint to the LBE chief executive about how badly this whole application was handled by the Planning Department, about procedural irregularities and about how the planners were quite happy to break almost all their own planning guidelines in an effort to push this through. Fortunately the councillors saw through all the nonsense, "lies" in the words of one councillor, and we saw informed local democracy in action.'' xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI am sure you have all read this but what I find interesting is Doctor's sure do earn a lot of money maybe that's why the NHS is in crisis.Secondly, Isn't it strange that Planning control were happy with his plans. I hope it wasn't an inside job or that innapropriate payment was made to any officer. I hope they conduct a full investigation into this state of affairs because something smells fishy. Where there is money, there is corruption.

Anna Lang ● 4973d194 Comments ● 4693d

MAYOR MUST ACT TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS

Published in 'Your Letters' Ealing Gazette Friday 13 December 2013For safety’s sake stay off pavementsIn response to London Assembly member Jenny Green’s call for Boris Johnson to act to protect cyclists on London’s roads [“Mayor must act to protect cyclists” letters Friday 6 December], will she also call on him to stop cyclists taking to the pedestrian pavements ‘for their own safety’. NO CYCLING signs on lamp posts would be a cheap and effective way to start (see below).However cyclists are viewed by other road users they are in law an anti-social and criminal menace when they ride on the pedestrian pavements. Under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 pedal cycles are defined as carriages, to be ridden only on the carriageways. Rule 64 of the Highway Code defines pavement cycling as a NO-NO!Following the recent deaths of cyclists in London the Metropolitan Police appear to be monitoring more closely the behaviour of cyclists on the roads, and the behaviour of other road users towards cyclists. They should at the same time crack down on any cyclists riding on the pavement, which is a criminal offence in itself no matter how the rider behaves while doing so.Certainly a default 20mph speed limit on the capital’s streets would make a significant contribution to cycling safety by reducing the speed differential between cyclists and other road traffic.Tony Purton Ealing Copied to: 'James.Ayling@met.police.uk'; Adrian.Hanstock@met.police.uk'; ODonnellN@ealing.gov.uk; bassam.mahfouz@ealing.gov.uk; 'andrew.gilligan@london.gov.uk'; 'onkar.sahota@london.gov.uk'; 'steve.pound.mp@parliament.uk'; 'angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk'Personal reply from Jenny Bond: "In response to your comments about cycling on pavements, it makes me very angry when cyclists break the law because it is dangerous, disrespectful to pedestrians and gives a bad name to those cyclists who don’t break the rules." See also previous postings: Page 6: PAVEMENT CYCLING; PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS; PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS – 2. Page 5: PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS – 3THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES TO CONTACT ARE:Ealing’s Community Police Team mailto: James.Ayling@met.police.uk Tel: 020 8246 9406 Met Police HQ: Commander Adrian Hanstock head of the Met Police Safer Transport Command mailto: Adrian.Hanstock@met.police.uk Tel: 020 3054 0293 London Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan [mailto: andrew.gilligan@london.gov.uk],  responsible for implementing London Mayor Boris Johnson’s ‘Vision for Cycling in London’ London Assembly: Ealing and Hillingdon member Dr Onkar Sahota mailto: onkar.sahota@london.gov.uk Tel: 020 7983 6558 Ealing Council: Assistant Director of Strategic Transport Nick O’Donnell mailto: ODonnellN@ealing.gov.uk Tel: 020 8825 8078 Ealing Council Cabinet: Member for Transport and Environment Councillor Bassam Mahfouz is mailto: Mahfouz@ealing.gov.uk Tel: 07949 104 656Ealing Ward Councillors:Councillor Isobel Grant     Isobel.grant@ealing.gov.uk                              Councillor John Popham   John.popham@ealing.gov.uk                             Councillor Greg Stafford   Gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.ukEaling Conservative Action TeamRosa Popham      rpopham@btinternet.com                              Ian Proud             ianproud@ip-associates.demon.co.uk

Tony Purton ● 4700d5 Comments ● 4693d