Update from John, Yvonne and Mik
Events for your diary
Saturday 9 July - Acton Carnival at Acton Park from 12:00-19:00, £2 entry. The Carnival kicks off at Woodlands Park with a parade to Acton Park for the main event with live music, food from around the world and a fun fair
Tuesday 12 July – Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team - Drop in Surgery at Michael Flanders Centre, Church Road from 14:30-15:30
Wednesday 13 July – South Acton councillor surgery, Oak Tree Centre 18:30-19:30 – Got a question or issue come and have a chat with your local councillor
Friday 15 July - Future of Acton Town Hall display, Acton Baths 07:00-10:00 and 16:00-20:00
Saturday 16 July - Future of Acton Town Hall display, Acton Market 10:00-17:00
Monday 18 July - Future of Acton Town Hall display, Oak Tree Centre 11:00-19:00
Tuesday 19 July - Future of Acton Town Hall display, Priory Centre 13:00-19:00
Wednesday 20 July - Future of Acton Town Hall display, Stirling Road Centre 10:00-12:00 and 18:00-19:30
Wednesday 20 July - The next South Acton ward forum will be held at the Armenian Centre, Mill Hill Road from 19:00
Around the Town Hall – News on Ealing council
While the welcome break of the summer is fast approaching, the last month was another busy one for your local South Acton councillors. As the mayor of Ealing cllr John Gallagher has been out and about the whole of the borough at a whole host of events, while cllr Yvonne Johnson and myself have been out and about across South Acton as well as down to business in the Town Hall.
The full council met on 14 June with John in the chair for his first proper meeting. And it was a baptism of fire as with a packed public gallery all 69 councillors heard three detailed petitions on Ealing’s consultation on libraries in the borough. Ealing council currently has to find some £85 million worth of cuts over the next three years and the Labour administration has had to look at every option. However, after working with the public and strong lobbying from the Labour councillors over the last few months it was announced that although the mobile library would have to close, the council had found the funds to save the main libraries in the borough.
It was a boisterous and long night, but came up with the right conclusion. The council still has many cuts to find, but we remain focused on supporting the local community as much as possible within these constraints. All libraries are looking for support, so if you’d like to volunteer then just drop us a line although the good news for Acton is that the local library will move to the new Town Hall as part of the regeneration project, but more on that later.
On the council front June also saw the latest Pension Fund Panel meeting of which both Yvonne and I are members, the committee continues to focus on ensuring the council’s pension funds are carefully invested, and that is also an issue I keep a close eye as chair of the Audit Committee; the latest meeting was also held at the end of last month and even with the cuts the council’s finances remain on track.
We have another full council meeting on the 19 July (agenda TBA) ahead of the summer break when many of your local councillors will take a welcome break. I will be around as I have a couple of surgeries at Ruskin Hall in August (Sat 6 and Sat 13, from 11:00-12:00).
Around South Acton – News about the ward
It has also been busy around South Acton, works on the estate are continuing both in terms of building new homes south of Bollo Bridge Road as well as local improvements. While there is some disruption hopefully the end result will pay dividends.
It was also a great pleasure to be invited to the unveiling of a plaque for Richard White, the founder of the Law Society who also founded the Mill Hill Estate. The rain mostly held off as we were treated to an appearance by the esteemed lawyer beyond the grave (a star turn by Mill Hill Road resident Ray Batchelor) you can see more on the Ealing Gazette and YouTube.
Other key events include the planning for the regeneration of Acton Town Hall which continues, and while the Town Hall was struck by lightning at the end of June it’s in good shape and there will be a display on future plans for the complex from the end of next week, details above.
I’m still following up the security issues about the mirror by the bridge on the South Acton recreation ground, we have a higher post on order which should hopefully make it more difficult to break, and talking of the railway the London Overground will not be running between Richmond and Willesden Junction for the next two weekends. I have also had some enquiries about parking problems and clamping in Brouncker Road that I’m chasing up.
The other key issue was this week’s cabinet meeting. Acton already faces major pressure on school places, as a governor on Berrymede I know the school is willing to expand, but even then there is still not enough space for Acton.
On Tuesday Ealing’s cabinet approved the move to reopen the Priory Centre as a school once again subject to planning permission.
I do think this is very good news, but it will mean earlier than expected change for the current community centre users. If the community groups have to move out earlier than expected the local Labour councillors will do as much as we can to help the community groups find alternative venues nearby in Acton, but it is also critical that we meet our obligations to ensure that all children in the borough have the opportunity of a school place.
There’s all for now, one last thing is don’t forget to contact us with your suggestions for improving South Acton, or even better come along to Saturday’s carnival or the next ward forum to discuss some of the ideas that have come in already, and if there is any help or support you need then don’t hesitate to drop us a line.
Best wishes
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
8th July 2011