Forum Topics

Birdsong

I know these are dreadfully difficult and worrying times but it is wonderful to stand outside and hear the birds singing their hearts out without the sound of traffic and planes.
Close your eyes, listen and try to relax a little.

N V Brooks ● 2398d2 Comments ● 2398d

History of Ealing

Hi folks, during this time of isolation for so many of us and with our borough undergoing so many recent changes I was wondering would it be possible for some of our local historians to post/re-post those great pictures/film/stories of Ealing past history/buidings etc,thanks Simon

Simon Swinn ● 2398d0 Comments ● 2398d

Free food

Hi allI work for a new build developer who have had to close their canteens due to the current situation.  This means we have a lot of food that will go to waste.  There is fresh fruit and veg, meat, cheese, milk etc.  If you are in need of food and not able to leave your home I may be able to get it delivered to you if you are able to travel the site is in Acton W3 and will be on a first come first served basis.  If you feel this is you please get in touch with me on 07585 135029.Thank you Kymberly

Kymberly Ashman ● 2400d3 Comments ● 2399d

Today's The Sunday Times - Best Places to Live 2020

Within the London regional section, Victoria Park Village was the winner with Ealing one of 5 runners up along with Bermondsey, Highbury, Muswell Hill and Notting Hill.And the summary for Ealing  "Why we love it : Calming, charming and better connected than Chiswick."Cowardly I know but I will leave it to someone else to post this news on the ChiswickW4 website.

Philip Coe ● 2401d13 Comments ● 2399d

Time to Postpone Trade Talks with the EU?

It perplexes me that more people are not raising the obvious question of why we are intending to persist with reshaping our relationship with the EU, a path which will involve a huge amount of dislocation for our economy when the coronavirus is already causing this to happen. This doesn't mean rejoining the EU but postponing the trade talks and remaining aligned with the single market until we are clear of the current crisis. The massive demands that the talks will place on an already overstretched civil service are bound to create a range of difficulties.Our PM is not known for his work ethic but even a more conscientous leader would struggle to cope with the workload that will be placed on them.If we leave the EU during a pandemic we reduce the ability of our universities to work with other institutions in Europe to develop a cure.It has already been reported that outside EU institutions we will not have the same access to EU developed vaccines that hopefully will become available.We have over the past few days had ample demonstration how even minor disruptions to supply chains can lead to hoarding and shortages. If the pandemic is still an issue and any new trading arrangement interrupt the free low of goods, there will be far worse scenes in our local shops and many people will have to go without basic essentials.The notion that freedom of movement presents an extra risk during a pandemic has been thoroughly disproven with EU countries closing their borders to each other for health reasons.If you don't agree that trade talks should be put on hold could you explain to me what are the benefits which outweigh all the negatives detailed above?

Mark Evans ● 2407d27 Comments ● 2400d

HANWELL - Step Free Access - Just one side!?

Reading the article about step free access from the redevelopment of Hanwell station, although there are indeed two new fully serviceable lifts, if you turn up in a wheel chair to the main station entrance on Campbell Road, you'll need first to be lifted up 4 steps to get the lift for that 'step free access'..otherwise you are obliged to wheel your self back to Church Road, under the bridge to the other entrance on Station Approach Ave where it is indeed step free! Apparently, the contractor had proposed putting in a ramp on the main station side but the council said they would not pay for it as they would be resurfacing the large waiting area which would deal with the issue. When ??,  no one seems to know, so if you are expecting to access the lifts step free for the foreseeable future, remember to access the station from the Station Approach side. Safe travels...when that is possible again after the current pandemic lock down.  

Mike Lakin ● 2404d2 Comments ● 2401d

GOOD NEWS.

Although we are going through a worldwide crisis, possibly never known so bad in human history, things are going to get better. The Bible promises: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." ( Revelation 21 v 4.) At present the whole world is going through a period known as the "last days" of a system that is about to be put right.2 Timothy 3:1-5 New International Version (NIV) says:(1)"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. (2) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, (4) treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— (5) having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."Is that a huge coincindence or is that an apt description of how many people in the world are today?Luke 21:10-11 New International Version (NIV) states:10 Then he (Jesus) said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events........"What is happening worldwide surely qualifies as seeing fulfillment today.This is the storm before the calm.“ALL creation keeps on groaning together and being in pain together until now.” So said the apostle Paul. (Romans 8:22) Despite advances in medical science, sickness and death continue to plague the human race. How wonderful, then, the promise that climaxes this part of Isaiah’s prophecy! Imagine the time when “no resident will say: ‘I am sick.’” (Isaiah 33:24)

Neil Milkins ● 2401d0 Comments ● 2401d

Covid-19: world (or at least G5) could have planned for this novel virus and Contact Tracing

(1) Bill Gates TED talk in 2015 in the wake of the ebola crisis: https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready/up-next?(2) We MUST trace contacts of all those who have tested positive for Covid-19 to bring infection under control. The Chinese did it right: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvXhcWXfOyg

Una-Jane Winfield ● 2401d1 Comments ● 2401d

Garden waste collection service 2019/20

We received today an email reminder for Garden Waste Collection.  We pay by Direct Debit and happy to continue to do so, however, we were unable to find anywhere on the email or the attachments a mention of what the amount would be, or when the monies would be taken. There was no form of "invoice"  or anything showing that the monies would be taken.  Are we missing something.

Libby Kemp ● 2419d18 Comments ● 2402d

Is It Morally Right to Go to the Pub?

I have to confess to nipping out last night for a very quick pint after work. The pub I was in wasn't busy but was far from empty. I took care to socially distance myself but on reflection I'm not entirely sure I was being responsible.On the one had I understand that ignoring the government's advice could contribute to a spread of the disease but on the other they do seem to have put all the financial burden of tackling this problem on pubs and restaurants. If it was really that bad, why not require them to close so they can claim on their insurance for an interruption of business. When all this is over many of these businesses will not be around so is giving them a bit of carefully considered support at the moment a bad thing?

Andy Jones ● 2405d18 Comments ● 2403d

Virus

Hi. I would love to help anyone who is at risk of isolation during this period . I live in Chiswick. I have a very recent DBS-formerly Criminal Record check. I currently work as a carer and journalist. I am a fully qualified socia worker. Any help I offer will be voluntary. My e mail address is sarahtully5@hotmail.co.uk. I apologise if this is not the right forum to use. Stay well. Sarah Tully

Sarah Tully ● 2403d0 Comments ● 2403d

Sainsburys Local / Esso garage South Ealing Road

Spread the word!!!These businesses are now covered by PPS Ltd (Parking Permit Services) who are a notorious firm of blaggers.They are issuing tickets which fall on the wrong side of a grey area of the law and extorting £60.00 to £100.00 out of people.The madness is -- if you park at the pumps and use Sainsburys but dont get petrol (which I find massively annoying) then you're in the clear. Pull up anywhere else for a nano-second and not be in a demarked bay then you'll be fined.I parked up to use the air hose for my tyres, couldn't use it so pulled away 3 mins later and got a £60.00 fine through the door. Yes these can be appealed and you'd probaly win as the signage is a joke and the fine non-equitable but some of us dont have the time or need the hassle!!!BE WARNED!Shame as if Sainsbury's are privy to this then totally counter intuitive as they'll be losing trade

Colin Goodman ● 2420d7 Comments ● 2403d

Not a thermometer anywhere in Ealing for love nor money, still five cases of Covid-19

The latest panic buying item is thermometers. You cannot get a thermometer in Ealing for love nor money as everywhere is sold out. On the plus side the number of Covid-19 cases in the London Borough of Ealing had not risen as of this morning (March 11th) staying at five confirmed cases for the third day running. However, overall in London cases have gone up to 104.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2412d23 Comments ● 2403d

OWL alert - bogus NHS callers

Bogus NHS Callers
  Dear Watch Member, We’ve heard from other boroughs via OWL about individuals knocking on doors claiming to be conducting virus testing in some areas. The police have indicated that the NHS are NOT conducting any door to door initiatives to test individuals for the Coronavirus. Please help raise awareness and if anyone knocks on your doors pretending to be doing those tests, please call 999. If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: ealingowl@hotmail.com Regards,
Suzanne Tanswell
Community Coordinator
Email: ealingowl@hotmail.com

N V Brooks ● 2404d1 Comments ● 2404d

How can Ealing claim to be "most ecological in London" when it proposes building huge tower blocks?

I am intrigured as to how Ealing Council can claim to be the most ecological borough in London, or indeed to be ecological at all, if it is proposing to build huge tower blocls on the site of the present Perceval House council building?

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2446d54 Comments ● 2404d

CllrJulian Bell on Covid-19 Response "This is the time to get to get the reserves out and use them.”

I watched some children playing with their parents on the playground equipment in Walpole Park earlier and I wondered if you knew that the contagious result of touching the equpment even thee days later lingers there up to three days. The same with sports equipment in the park or in the gym. Likewise in a pub or cafe or restaurant oor even a business meeting,,microscopic water droplets hang in the air after an infected persons' visit for three hours, and were infectious for up to that long. Could Ealing not at least regulalry spray the outised playgrounds and sport equipment. Sadly running into Cllr Mik Saviers and Rupa Huq M.P a week ago I encountered a brick wall of ignorance, arrogrance, and a desire to spend nothing because onlo £9.8 million in the Council Reserves was available to Ealing Council and the rest was allocated. Oh their great emphasis was on the flu-related disaster plans that everyone had been touting in total ignorance of the enormous differece between flu and Covid-19. Unmitigated political bollocks from people who had no idea that there was  even Covid-19 in the Borough at that particular time.As the number of Covid-19 confirmed cases double from 21 to 42 overnight in Ealing  (as of 09:00) Wedneday 18th 2020 it was a belated relief to here an announcement by Council Leader Julian Bell:“I have already talked to my officers about how we need to have our own coronavirus emergency fund and use reserves for that,” Cllr Bell explained.“We always say reserves are for a rainy day and blimey this is a rainy day. This is the time to get the reserves out and use them.”First might I be so bold as to ask heim to a) empower chemists to make their own hand-sanitizer which they are not allowed to, b) divert front line staff to disinfect the children playground in the Boroughs, c) disinfect railings in popluar places such parks, tube stations, schools (those that are not closing), bus stop benches, ATM machines, lift buttons and interiors, buses, tube trains and trains, and perhaps even provide hand sanitisation stations all over the Borough, not forgetting any table or counter surface that has been touched as a plastic surface can carry an infectious load virus for up to three day. Likewise, ventilation is a must, and the virus droplets can hang around as microscopic droplets in the air around three hours and can causes infection, so open those hours and crack the air-conditioning system up to provide the most fresh coming in and old air getting out, it may be uncomfortable but it might save you from contracting the disease/ It is essential that hard surfaces like table and chairs and bar tops are regularly wiped and that the local cafes, pubs, glubs, restautans and their toilets and eashrooms are checked to make sure that there is soap hot water and towes and drierst ath workd (and perhaps some heatingin this cold weather too).The three hour aerosol virus in the air can be mitigated by goo ventilation such as opening windows and hours with the ait conditioning running on maximum fresh air into the building and old air oout of rather than recirculating it. Signs everwhere to remind people to wipe tables as well as thie hands.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2404d0 Comments ● 2404d

#ResignBorisJohnson

It is a glaring understatement that the UK, and most of the world, is facing a serious peacetime crisis.The UK has a clown in charge, surrounded by sycophants and unelected advisors. He appears to ignore experts' opinions and treats serious issues as a joke (put 'Operation Last Gasp (16 March 2020)' in your search engine).There are better people out there to steer us through this challenge.

Paul Cronshaw ● 2406d11 Comments ● 2405d

If you are self employed or a sole operator/trader

Many self employed are finding all their bookings and contracts being cancelled or postponed indefinitely.  Worse still many are having invoiced payments deferred using Coronavirus as justification.Many of these larger companies will be receiving help and directors may well be keeping their huge salaries and bonuses.There are several petitions to help long term self employed who pay Tax and NI in full but do not get any assistance that people in PAYE get.Govt on TV today stated Local Authorities have a remit to help but both Govt and Local council websites are full of hot air and no actual proper contact or pragmatic adviceHowever The House of Commons are asking for specific questions from this quite large sector of society so, as posted to me from others posted below for others for whom this is a concern.“Include self-employed in statutory sick pay during Coronavirus”:https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300336As the result of the large numbers of petitions and signatures we've received on coronavirus, we will be putting your concerns and questions directly to the Government at an evidence session (a question and answer session with representatives from the Government) in the coming days.Tell us what question(s) you'd like us to the ask the Government and experts in this short survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/petitionscommittee/We'll email you again to let you know more about the session, including when it's going to happen, who'll be taking part and how you can watch it live.We will also email you a link to the video and a transcript of the session afterwards.Who are we?We are the House of Commons Petitions Committee. We are a cross-party group of MPs that looks at e-petitions submitted on petition.parliament.uk. We are independent from Government. You can find out more about us and our work on our website: http://www.parliament.uk/petitions-committee/role

Raymond Havelock ● 2405d0 Comments ● 2405d

Julian 'two pads' Bell.

I see his personal living 'arrangements' are in the news again.  Didn't he also have a part ownership of a third property up t'north?  Or was that an unsubstantiated rumour?

Tony Heath ● 2411d18 Comments ● 2405d

Time for a smile

N V Brooks ● 2406d1 Comments ● 2405d