Forum Topics

At last!!!  https://ealingindependents.com/

I have nothing to do with this btw, I have only just today learned of their existence.Maybe they took note of my suggestions from years ago?Anyways, seems they just might be a Force For Good?!!!!              👍

Rosco White ● 2046d0 Comments ● 2046d

The latest version of the Perceval House scheme is joke

The developers of the Perceval House scheme (essentially the council itself led by Julian Bell's Labour group) have tweaked its terrible scheme slightly.  The scheme is not improved at all by taking out 42 two bed flats and putting back 21 three beds and 21 one beds.  This really is an insulting rearrangement of the deckchairs (internal walls).  Nothing else has changed and the stage has been set for the scheme to be nodded through by the whipped Labour group councillors on the planning committee.  The scheme remains otherwise tall, ugly, cramped and intrusive.  The scheme is grotesque over development. The planners would not let any other developer, other than council itself, pursue such a nakedly rapacious scheme. The council is essentially selling the looks and height limit in the town centre for a free, new building for itself.The scheme replaces an ugly building that only a council could build with a larger, uglier one. The old building was out of keeping and the new one will be worse.Of course the scheme is way too high and sets a precedent.Only the council could be this venal.Do not be confused.  This is not "developers" stuffing us.  It is Ealing Labour group.

Phil Taylor ● 2057d17 Comments ● 2046d

Equal under God and the Law but not in Ealing

I quote from Around Ealing recently arrived Mar 2021....."Recent data shows that just 1% of LTN penalty charge notices(PCNs) were issued to drivers who live inside of that PCN,with 60% of the fined drivers not living in the borough. The council wants to ensure drivers avoid a PCN and there is full information and detailed maps of every LTN in the borough available at...    ealingltn.commonplace.is"What is the council suggesting?That you drive with a laptop checking every road for council numpties?Is this the thin edge of rascism?Are those from Hounslow, Europe and the Caribbean banned/fined because the numpties can't produce clear signs to get their silly message across.I thought we were equal under God and the Law not in Ealing it seems.

Arthur Breens ● 2050d44 Comments ● 2046d

Where would you rather live - East Acton or Manhattan?

Ref front page news story "Stop the Towers Set to Continue Fight Against Over Development".Although I am against these dreadful towers this extract from the article amused me:-"I feel really sorry for people in East Acton as they have ended up in Manhattan on their doorstep."If only..

Philip Coe ● 2048d3 Comments ● 2047d

New threats against the Ealing we love from Bellend and crew

Save Ealing's Centre - saveealingscentre.com

peter king ● 2049d2 Comments ● 2048d

Is this the end for the Perceval House mega project?

I was surprised and pleased to read the news about the deferral of he massive town centre development scheme. Presumably some Labour councillors voted against the scheme — good for them. Anybody know who they were? The thought struck me that, despite what Stop The Towers say about there being a conflict of interest in the council having to consider its own application, it is probably more difficult to get them through. This is because councillors have often in the past felt obliged to vote in favour of a bad scheme because they know refusal would only result in a lengthy and expensive legal battle which the developer would win. As there is presumably no chance of the council taking itself to court the councillors on the planning committee have more leeway to vote in the broader public interest. If this proves to be true it might just be the last we see of this particular scheme but only time will tell.

Gordon Southwell ● 2067d39 Comments ● 2051d

Chris Barber RIP

A wonderful trombone player, former member of John Miles' Bluesbreakers and a stalwart of the Ealing Jazz Festival; Chris Barber passed away early today the fine age of 90.RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

N V Brooks ● 2055d7 Comments ● 2052d

Which pubs and restaurants have we lost in Ealing?

Much as I am looking forward to lockdown ending I'm slightly dreading the number of favourite venues that might no longer be with us. Who knows which pubs and restaurants aren't going to be reopening in the Ealing area?

Tricia Arbuthnot ● 2068d14 Comments ● 2053d

Glenn Roeder RIP

Very sad news regarding the death of Glenn Roeder at the age of 65. Rangers supporters of a certain vintage will remember him as a cultured centre half bringing the ball out of defence and doing the "Roeder Shuffle" as he did so.He played in the '82 cup final against Spurs but missed the replay owing to suspension . Otherwise the result may have been different .RIP.

David Burke ● 2057d3 Comments ● 2055d

SA variant in Ealing

Apparently the variant has been discovered all over Ealing - Acton, Greenford, Southall and West Ealing.What on earth is going on in Ealing - why is the covid situation so dire in this borough.Just when things seems to be improving in other areas Ealing is failing AGAIN.What is Anna Bryden doing to justify her substantial salary?

M Powes ● 2060d25 Comments ● 2057d

Trees to be removed for more LTN cameras

I understand that Trees are to be heavily pruned or removed to allow for widespread use of Cameras for LTNs and other enforcements by Ealing and it's contractors.Some works are already being carried out and others areas being assessed.This does seem to rather contradict the argument for air quality and exposes the real issue about how much revenue streams can be created.Is there more on this somewhere as it was apparently discussed with senior council directors so presumably minuted somewhere.?

Raymond Havelock ● 2061d19 Comments ● 2059d

Recommendations for brickwork

I wonder if anyone can recommend a builder to fix my front garden wall? Parts of it need re-laying and general maintenance. I also would like to sort out the front patio, it is currently concrete and fake grass (lovely...) but would probably be better off paved. Thanks in advance!

Anna Henderson ● 2059d0 Comments ● 2059d

LTN's not found to cause emergency delays

Not only were LTN's cleared of any disruption to emergency services , most NHS Trusts actually supported their use.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/13/covid-bike-and-walking-schemes-do-not-delay-ambulances-trusts-say

Kenneth Day ● 2072d32 Comments ● 2060d

Brentford beat QPR yet AGAIN

Congratulations to Brentford supporters offshoot SWF on their victory QPR’s inept owners screwed this up from the startGood luck in your next battle against slicker operators who will follow

Colin Goodman ● 2355d18 Comments ● 2060d

Gas and electric suppliers.

ENERGY SUPPLIERS.Because I haven't got a head for figures I have stuck with SSE Swalek for 47 years. But owing to Look After My Bills without my permission signing me up to Utility Point in October 2021, I have had the opportunity to try and figure out which energy provider gives the best deal. I have learned that using switching companies provides the worst deals and leave behind a trail of stress. For instance Look  After My Bills and Utility Point for 4 months have both blamed each other and both have launched an investigation into the mess they have dropped me in. And the situation has not been resolved with 2 BBC consumer programmes investigating hundreds if not thousands of complaints against these 2 companies.My energy provider for 47 years, SSE had suggested that I start off with them as a new customer and on 12-1-21 a contract was agreed with a customer service agent emailing me the following details."Good day Mr Milkins,This is to confirm the effective start date with Swalec-SSE is the 29 January 2021 to take over the gas and electricity supply.This means that you will only be charged from the date mentioned above going forward. All other charges will be applied by your current supplier until the date your supply starts with Swalec-SSE.Thank you.Regards,Yolanda."Hooray. Then I get the following  email from Jolene from SSE on 20-1-20."I understand that you have been sent an email regarding the dates the supply has come back to us and you were advised that you would not have a bill until SSE started [29-1-21], feedback is being provided to that adviser so this incorrect information is not given in the future, for this I can offer a goodwill payment of £30.00 for incorrect information given. SSE can keep their £30 !!!!!!!!!!I have now learned how easy it is to find the cheapest deal for gas and electric. Find a company offering a 2 year fixed tariff which I have done. To date, the best deal offers a 2 year fixed tariff.                                 For gas, the daily standing charge is 27 pence per day. The charge for gas is 2.952 pence per kw hour.For electric, the standing charge is 24.02 pence per day. The charge for electric is 17.42 per kw hour.These prices are considerably cheaper than my former supplier. If anyone can direct me to a better deal, please let me know as haven't signed up to EDF yet.

Neil Milkins ● 2095d5 Comments ● 2061d

Gunnersbury Park Bowls Club

The public are losing their parks, they are being given to private entities by our corrupt political system. Wads of money are being flashed and the Council just gives in and hands over the park. The same thing has happened in Boston Manor Park, all the Councils seem to be interested in is the revenue from FILMING and MUSIC FESTIVALS. Gunnersbury Park had about 9 free to use tennis courts, instead of refurbishing them the council has done away with them and allowed a colossal private sports centre to be built. It will now be necessary to join or pay loads to use it. This is a public owned park that is being given away - again. Why do our Council Taxes no longer cover the cost of parks? Who are these mysterious "Friends" of our parks?

Roy Baker ● 2087d21 Comments ● 2062d

local store/handyman that will do the base and install garden shed

Hi,Can someone please recommend us a reliable store or a handyman that will do a concrete base for a shed.We would like to have garden shed or a summerhouse.Many Thanks.Caroline

Caroline Frederick ● 2063d2 Comments ● 2062d

FINAL WARNING

FINAL WARNING.                                                                                                                                                                                                                     If anyone is thinking of joining energy switching company Look After My Bills or energy supply company, Utility Point, please look at their reviews on Look After My Bills Problem Reporting Page and Utility Point Owes Me a Refund on Facebook Groups page. There are thousands of people nationwide that have had nightmare experiences with these companies. Both companies will sign you up within seconds on dedicated signing up landlines but when problems arise it is virtually impossible to contact them. Telephone calls are not connected and emails to them don't get answered. There are many warnings on Trustpilot about these two companies as well. Shockingly Utility Point are under investigation by Trustpilot for offering incentives to people to post positive reviews. Look After My Bills are now also under investigation for doing the same.

Neil Milkins ● 2065d0 Comments ● 2065d

Watch this video and be afraid, very afraid...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3J2GPvI5vny2ME8c3b3ld2XNtiHJ4NtBSBiB3NFk8VFltWtqVLyeB33Vs&v=w9O8RBgfXnM&feature=youtu.be

Simon Hayes ● 2068d9 Comments ● 2065d

Shameful Gunnersbury Park CIC

Surely Ealing and Hounslow Councils need to call an enquiry into just how Gunnersbury Park is being run.Clearly, it is far from interested in being a community organisation but obsessed with their own agenda and rather deluded.The way in which the Bowls club, a long established club accessible for all, at costs that local people can afford, self financing, run and maintained fully by members for the past 25 years as a result of the complete failure of Ealing and Hounslow to maintain this parks facilities for near 50 years is nasty, ageist and wholly conceited.The silence from Ealing Councillors is yet again, underlining how ageist and removed they are from local community.  Hounslow councillors fare little better but at least have become aware that something fishy is going on with this Organisation.Far too many cosy arrangements to be healthy.I understand that somehow, this Organisation is exempt from any form of open access from Freedom of Information to public accountability. And yet they are funded by grants, awards and ultimately source from taxpayers and public money. None of which has found it's way to the Bowls club or other basic aspects of this park.  But above average salaries for those within the CiC and it's associates remain.Truly appalling. Local people, whether they be interested in Bowls or not, or how a public park with public amenities is being turned into a commercialised profit centre at the expense of basic amenities affordable and accessible for all ought to be asking their elected representatives to ask questions.Bowls is a multicultural genteel sport played all over the world. It is reviving and can be played from a young age right through to old age. Not many Sports than can accommodate that.When it's gone it's gone. A proper sports facility, a public amenity replaced by a Fast food outlet and a sideshow crazy golf. That's not a sport or a public amenity. It is a profit business.Did this not happen with Walpole Park and a Coffee Hut? That was another case of bullying and closed door dealing. And it went wrong. Very Wrong.Especially now that we are being told by authorities to walk, cycle and stay local.

Raymond Havelock ● 2070d8 Comments ● 2068d