Forum Topics

Somers & Blake

Hi, Does anyone know if Somers & Blake, solicitors near Wickes in Hanwell, are still in business?  I've been getting a ringing out phone for the past week.

Caroline Cabraal ● 1710d4 Comments ● 1703d

Ealing Council Tree Department

In April 2021 Ealing Council contractors sawed down a beautiful and perfectly healthy Norway Maple from outside our property. Over nine months later its large ugly stump remains. The justification to cut this huge tree down was that over time its trunk and roots had caused damage to the pavement, as the trunk has been left and the pavement remains in the same condition the exercise was pointless and leaves us an eyesore in place of a magnificent tree. I have tried to telephone and have written regular emails to the Councils tree dept, the last time anyone was courteous enough to reply was in November when they cited the contractor as not having the correct tool and staff shortages, previously that it was policy to have a group of trees to do on the same day. Nine months! I’d be grateful for any suggestions on how to escalate the matter,  Ealing Commons local councillors have been emailed directly and copied on all correspondence but don’t acknowledge.

Adam Porges ● 1706d12 Comments ● 1704d

TfL still manipulating and lying

If TfL were a national government, it would be up there with Russia, China and many despot countries for their constant misleading and use of unsubstantiated propaganda.It may not be as nasty as those places but the methodology remains the same. It would no doubt be unrecognised by the UK and sanctions applied.Then again. our Government is not exactly squeaky clean when it comes to telling the truth or misleading the public.However, it takes constant Freedom of Information requests to glean anything from TfL and their duck and dive approach to responding usually means 2 or three attempts before the answers start to emerge.They know that journalists and those who take the trouble to investigate further have limited time or resources or both and this appeases them.The latest claims on this websites lead story are completely unsubstantiated and based on policy and politically funded research. In other words organisations that will produce a report that vindicates what their paymasters policy requires.To take one example : To date there are no clear and definitive causes of Dementia. Whilst Alzheimers is now the generic word, Dementia is a range of diseases of which Alzheimers is one.It is as common in rural areas as it is in dense urban areas - as is Asthma. I have family who suffer both and live in a very rural part of England and one in Eire. Fact is, after decades of research,fund raising the causes are still not understood. It is so random in so many cases.TfLs claims about Hospital admissions are also unfounded. it is modelled propaganda. They have omitted the sources again and again.  B*******t baffles Brains and it seems it works.Our politicians are too lazy or afraid to do the hard work of proper fact finding and force TfL to be open and honest rather than sly and deceptive.The huge waste of money on the ULEZ which with diminishing non compliant vehicles already way below the figure TfL based the justification on in the first place - again by not even being honest to themselves but keen to please their political masters, could have made safer road surfaces and better general improvements London wide for all road users and provide a fully funded mandatory training and proficiency scheme to be reinstated for Cyclists and other non car users.It was the LCC that set this up in the first place and it ended with the demise of the GLC.

Raymond Havelock ● 1753d124 Comments ● 1713d

Lost Kitten in Wilsmere Drive, UB5

Please could you keep an eye out for a kitten that got lost on 1.February, around 11AM, on Wilsmere Drive, near Wilsmere Park. He is male, black, with 2 white patches on his belly, and green eyes. Please contact me if you see him, he is so vulnerable out there.

Erika Lutzke ● 1714d0 Comments ● 1714d

What to do with your Old Electricals

Lots of info on the different ways to deal with and how to recycle your electricals now that many people will have updated or have had a sort out during the holidays.Make sure you match your chargers and leads to their equipment so that you don't recycle parts of items that you'll later regret... Mark them so mark them so no-one will get carried away in their de-cluttering enthusiasm.  You could spend ages trying to replace them online.https://www.recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/

Philippa Bond ● 1733d18 Comments ● 1715d

Fire Engines Delayed by LTNs

No source is given for the figures on delays to fire engines in the report currently on the front page but I presume they come from London Fire Brigade. They don't really tell us anything we didn't already know. Emergency workers had made it clear that the barriers were causing them delay. What I found annoying was the attempt by some to minimise this problem by quoting figures based on average response times for fire engines as if a minimal change showed that the LTNs were not causing extra risk. What these figures demonstrate is that probably on around 40-50 occasions in Ealing fire engines took longer to get to an incident because of LTNs. Another reason to applaud Peter Mason's decision to scrap most of these schemes despite the punitive measures that have been taken against the borough in terms of funding as a result. As I write Sue Grey has yet to present her report but the Prime Minister may be gone by the end of the day — with him will go Andrew Gilligan and Ealing will start to get its fair share of transport funding again.

Gordon Southwell ● 1725d30 Comments ● 1719d

An urgent plea.

From Facebook."An urgent plea for help to anyone travelling on the 207 this morning (and for some kind person to share this to Hanwell friends - please)A bereaved man on his way for a last visit to his partner at Ryan’s undertaker in South Ealing, before the funeral tomorrow, left a bag of really precious but not valuable things of his partner’s including a photo for the funeral on the bus. He ran after the bus when he realised,  but fell over. He did alert the next bus. It is a Marks and Spencer’s green and black zipped cool bag n the bottom deck of the bus. Southall bus depot are trying to locate it too. Ryan’s happy to receive calls about it too - 020 8567 1664 Would be so grateful if you can help."

N V Brooks ● 1720d5 Comments ● 1719d

Sneaky LTN backdoor alternative

I read in the paper a new policy adopted on 2 occasions to my knowledge, new road restrictionsFirstly a no left turn sign off Olive Rd (to motorists) to enable access to South Ealing Road.2) is to prevent left turn from Springbridge Rd/Haven Green into Gordon Rd,Effectively closing the road & channelling traffic down the main roads as an alternative to foolhardy LTNs

Peter Yale ● 1737d9 Comments ● 1722d

Is Alex Stafford a pork pie plotter?

Has anyone been keeping tabs on Alex Stafford, formerly of this parish, and his doings in Rother Valley?  It would interesting to know if he was one of the pork pie plotters involved in the coup attempt against Johnson or indeed if he might be considering doing a Christian Wakefield and defecting to Labour. I had a quick scan of his social media and was unable to find any messages of support for the Prime Minister at this difficult time for him.

Gordon Southwell ● 1731d4 Comments ● 1724d

Complaints procedure rewritten to protect the CEO.

Complaints procedure rewritten to protect the CEO.The complaints procedure used to have 3 stages.  It has been reduced to 2.  It will no longer have a stage-three input from the CEO.  Instead, it will go straight to the local Government Ombudsman.  Nice for the CEO.  If the LGO finds the Council guilty of maladministration, the CEO will no longer be implicated.The CEO should be held accountable for anything and everything those under him do.  He is paid enough to take responsibility for their behaviour.   The change was discussed at the cabinet meeting of 10.11.21.  The rationale for trimming away the third stage was that it was found that the stage-three review did not change the outcome for the complainant. The same might be said of stage two, because the officers who review the response of the stage-one respondent (their colleague) act not with the honesty and impartiality required of a public servant but as “counsel for the defence” for their colleague.   The usual trick, even at stage one, is to claim the matter has already been dealt with. At the cabinet meeting, there was no discussion of whether the CEO should not still play a part in the process by being the second-stage respondent. So, now the CEO has no responsibility to investigate the behaviour of the senior officers below him, which one would have thought was one of his functions. The author of the proposal put before the Cabinet for this change was Alison Reynolds,who has control of the complaints procedure.  This is the Alison Reynolds who when asked to investigate a complaint against a senior colleague wrote “I have concluded that all of the matters raised as part of this case have now been addressed”  - even though she was the first person to address them  - and handn’t addressed them and didn’t! The complaints procedure is corrupted by senior officers who protect their senior colleagues by this quick-fix comment (“already dealt with”).  It has become institutionalised by repetition.

Andrew Farmer ● 1724d1 Comments ● 1724d

I hope the next LBE Chief Exec is a "suitably high quality candidate" such as Najsarek was.  🤣

One thing we do know, s/he will possess uncannily strong Left Leanings.That is all!

Rosco White ● 1734d4 Comments ● 1727d

Lost Ginger Cat- Cavendish Avenue

Our cat Astro has been missing for 2 days!He is completely ginger with spotty markings on his back. Wearing a red bowtie collar.Please if you are local check your sheds and garages!If you see him please call Lauren on 07857 427785 or Guy on 07482 339495.

Lauren Taylor ● 1729d0 Comments ● 1729d

Changes to Council Services eg Recycling & Waste:  Christmas & New Year

https://www.ealing.gov.uk/news/article/2140/changes_to_council_services_over_christmasnew_year_periodIt takes a while for the collections to get back to the schedule.You can also find the write up and dates for this on this website in the Calendar column if you scroll down.You can also re-check what can be recycled kerbside and in the neighbourhood recycling bins here:https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201171/recycling_servicesCheck out the new textile collection and where our recycling goes etc.Even better check out the West London Waste Authority's website for hep with reducing waste and recycling.www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, supermarket websites and many more now have lots of recipes for leftovers.

Philippa Bond ● 1755d28 Comments ● 1731d

Shining a light for LibDems

As well as having his say on tower blocks after helping Catalyst Housing Group get their 34 storey block at the expense of a coherent community and 232 social housing units on the Friary Park estate Ealing Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Gary Malcolm is now up in arms about street lighting. As usual the Lib Dem is missing the point and helping his Labour Councillor mates as the political elites always do. In 2015 Labour Cllr Bassam Mahfouz established Ealing’s ‘Smart City’ project by having SSE Enterprise run street lights in the Borough. There was no consultation with any community or environmental groups about allowing a failing private firm to provide public services. Why has jet-setting Gary made no mention of fellow Councillor Mahfouz or Andy Marcham, the SSE Enterprise Lighting Operations Manager  Fin Kelly, Strategic Lead for Digital and Smart Cities at Ealing who all have their hands deep in the taxpayers pockets?

Martin Cain ● 1731d1 Comments ● 1731d

Fly Tipping

Last week, fly tipping took place in a private estate in Northolt West End. The police were contacted but said it was nothing to do with them and we should contact the council, even though we supplied the registration number and a photo of the miscreant's van. I contacted the three councillors in Northolt West End but received absolutely no response. Somebody else contacted the Council who said it was none of their business and might issue an order for us to remove the dumped rubbish. Some advice would be appreciated as our Metropolitan Police seems no longer interested in criminal activity even when being supplied with evidence of who is the offender.

Ian Fergus ● 1744d18 Comments ● 1731d

Can you Recommend a housing law solicitor in Ealing please ?

I have had disrepair in flat and would  like to know if anyone can recommend a solicitor in  Ealing who can bring a claim against freeholders for disrepair and damages ?

Fabian Peter ● 1736d4 Comments ● 1732d

council fined by LGO for housing and compaints maladministration

Council found guilty of “severe maladministration” in respect of housing and its complaints procedure. No news to me and my neighbours.  We recall the horrors of the time the Council was operating a hostel at 354-6 Uxbridge Road - contrary to planning regulations.  More recently council officer Mark Wiltshire relicensed a landlord as “a fit and proper person” to hold a licence on a large HMO when he knew he had been housing tenants in filth and fire hazard (walls damp and mouldy, smoke alarm taped over, fire escape route blocked with old furniture and rubbish), and knew he was failing to prevent his tenants causing antisocial nuisance in the neighbourhood.   Shocking.  More shocking:  Wiltshire still has his job.  The complaints procedure?  We complained about him. It was dealt with by Helen Harris, Director legal and Democratic Services.  Required to respond within twenty days, she procrastinated for nearly five months!  The Council apologised for her “unacceptable” behaviour.  The complaint passed to officer Alison Reynolds. Before we had had a chance to request escalation, she had already refused to escalate the complaint. “I would like to advise you that the Council will no longer enter into any more correspondence with you or your associates”.  It was our right to request escalation. She corrupted due process, Shocking.  More shocking. She still has her job. History has repeated itself and will go on doing so under Mason.  He asked residents to email him with concerns about the borough.  I emailed him about this.  He ignored the email.  

Andrew Farmer ● 1739d1 Comments ● 1733d

Public Open Space Covenants & Stipulations on Council-held land

In the neighbouring London Borough of Hillingdon (our Prime Minister - The Right Hon. Boris Johnson's constituency), the Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors made the following Motion at Cabinet on 13th January 2022."That this Council believes that restrictive covenants on public & communal land plays an important role in ensuring that the value and enjoyment of the land is, and continues to be, preserved. Restrictive covenants enhance and protect our borough for our residents’ benefit and that of future generations.This Council, therefore, believes that it should set the example and do all within its power to uphold restrictive covenants especially on council land.This Council, therefore, calls on the Cabinet to abolish their current plans to remove the restrictive covenant in Yiewsley in order to develop on the recreation ground and library site.This Council calls on the Cabinet to enter into dialogue with local residents to devise alternative options for the use of the land in Yiewsley that complies with the restrictive covenants put in place to preserve the enjoyment and benefit for Hillingdon residents.Furthermore, this Council commits to uphold restrictive covenants across the borough for the benefit of residents."The above declaration in the Motion is reminiscent of the admirable Manifesto Pledge made by Cllr. John Cudmore, former Acton Councillor and the Leader of the Labour Group in Ealing at the time of his party's successful efforts to win the administration control of Ealing Council in May 1994 at the local 4-yearly election promising that the Council would respect the views of residents and protect the borough's conservation areas and green spaces from backland developments, etc.Victor Mishiku  16/1/2022"The Covenant Movement" Ealing.

Victor Mishiku ● 1735d2 Comments ● 1733d

Co Op Pitshanger Lane

A friend used the ATM (Albert Rd end) 10.35, Monday03/01/22Unfortunately they left their phone & the bank card in the phone wallet, a Nat West card on top of a bin.Returning within minutes,they  were goneThese have both now been cancelled, but should someone happen across them, could they hand them in to the Co Op staff please,There is cctv covering the ATM, hopefully the police can investigate

Peter Yale ● 1748d2 Comments ● 1740d

Brentford County Court is a disgrace

i have sent 3 emails to Brentford County court using 3 different emails and using 2 different email accountsbrentfordcountycourt@justice.gov.ukenquiries@brentford.countycourt.gsi.gov.ukbrentfordcountycourt@hmcts.gsi.gov.ukall 6 emails have been bounced back as undelivered , could somebody else try them to see if they also get bounced on top of that its impossible to get through on the phone , one phone has message that its not been possible to connect that number and the other rings and rings until it auto hangs upthe so called pandemic has destroyed what little infrastructure was left and how the hell can can Communist Ealing Council be awarded  £1600 in the SMALL CLAIMS COURT

P Taylor ● 1773d4 Comments ● 1740d