What's been happening over the last month
Welcome to the latest update on what’s been happening in South Acton, it’s been a busier month than expected although fortunately it has not been front page news unlike last year when the riots dominated developments in Ealing in August.
There are still challenges facing South Acton – and Ealing – overall, and August opened with a detailed briefing for all councillors on the latest developments regarding what is effectively the complete undermining of four local hospitals. The ongoing consultation – the deadline for responses is Monday 8 October 2012 – is asking for your views on what is effectively a plan is to downgrade several west London hospitals and would see accident and emergency departments at Ealing, Central Middlesex, Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals closed. Ealing council opposes the plans and we are encouraging everyone in the borough to sign up to Ealing council’s petition against the proposals and I would encourage everyone to respond to the consultation, the more voices that are raised the less we can be ignored.
The consultation can be accessed online via the council’s campaign page: http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200924/save_our_hospitals_campaign,
The other key event related to the campaign, and one I would advise everyone in South Acton to get involved with, is the march and rally to show the level of opposition to the proposals. We hope to have thousands on the streets to speak up for Ealing’s NHS services, join us and send a message that says we want to keep our local hospitals. The march is this Saturday 15 September, with people meeting at Acton Park from 11am and the march will leave at noon travel along Acton High Street to Ealing Common for speeches and live music from 13:00. Demonstrating does make a difference and the forecast for Saturday is warm, sunny weather so put the date in your diary and sign up at http://saveourhospitals.org.uk/ where you can get more details.
As well as backing our local NHS we have been busy with quite a lot of casework. I have been catching up with resident concerns regarding the proposed changes by TfL to the turning at Gunnersbury Lane and Uxbridge Road/Acton High Street. There are strong arguments regarding pedestrian safety and I have been talking with the council to ensure that TfL understands the issues raised. At the moment we have no further details about the planned date of implementation, but I will endeavour to keep residents posted of news as it happens. All three of us are planning to meet with the council’s transport team to discuss this further.
And talking of surgeries don’t forget that John, Yvonne and I take it in turns with most of the other Acton Labour councillors to hold a regular Saturday surgery at Ruskin Hall in Church Road between 11 and noon. Just drop by and we’ll do all we can to help. We also hold a monthly surgery at the Oak Tree Community Centre on the second Wednesday of the month from 18:30-19:30.
The other main development over the past month has been the amount of new construction work going on. Anyone that has been near the top of Acton Lane will have seen the old Priory Centre is no more as demolition work is well and truly under way. I am saddened to lose the old building, but the work towards building the new school which will help ease the pressure on primary places in the area when it opens in September next year is moving ahead and I look forward to the doors of a brand new fit for purpose school opening this time next year. Work is also about to start on the redevelopment of the swimming pool and the old town hall. Boards have been put in position and work on that major project will also kick off soon. And for good measure there’s more work going on at the old Magistrate’s Court which is being turned into residential accommodation by a private developer. I am happy to say that the old building will remain, although a new house will be added to the land, so all in all it is all change in this part of South Acton.
Last weekend also saw not only some glorious weather but two related events that brought a smile to South Acton. Saturday started with the family fun day on the South Acton recreation ground organised by All Saint’s church and supported by St Mary’s. As well as a good exhibition inside the church there was music for all ages, although a top attraction for local children was the bouncy castle. Afterwards the Oak Tree centre was open for business with the Acton Community Forum organising stalls, food and fun for all and Ealing’s current mayor cllr Mo Aslam was also in attendance. It was a good day and it’s always nice for people to come together, especially with the latest good news on the estate in that the planning permission for the next stage (phase 2) of the regeneration of the estate has now been granted.
The last week has also seen formal council business resume with both Yvonne and I at the pension fund panel this week and all councillors being trained on standards following central government changes. This week I will be at scrutiny, we’re looking into alcohol misuse in Ealing and what we can do to improve health and wellbeing, while next week sees Yvonne at cabinet, items on the agenda include changes to council tax benefits, and for those on Oakley Avenue the extension of the Zone G CPZ to cover the surrounding roads will be considered after 76 per cent of residents voted in favour. There’s also good news in that the leader of the council has approved the latest ward forum spend, so dog mess bins should be coming to the South Acton recreation ground. The next day I will be chairing the audit committee, while the week after all of us are due to be at the next Acton Gardens board meeting, that week also sees the start of Labour party conference so things will continue to be busy.
And that’s it for now, as London hopefully gets back to normal after the successful and inspiring Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can only reiterate that apart from joining us to help save our local hospitals this Saturday if there’s anything you have any queries about then just please drop us a line.
Warm regards
John, Yvonne and Mik
John Gallagher – john.gallagher@ealing.gov.uk – 020 8993 0017
Yvonne Johnson – yvonne.johnson@ealing.gov.uk – 020 8993 4166
Mik Sabiers – mik.sabiers@ealing.gov.uk – 020 8992 5014 / 07867 538 646/updates on twitter: @miksabiers
14th September 2012