Forum Topic

Juliet Cole · 6/11/2015 12:54:00 PM

new.ActonW3.com Communtity Forum Topic posting

North Acton Station Square

Anyone know what is happening in North Acton opposite the tube station? The petrol station that was there was pulled down months ago. I thought that Ealing council was building a new entrance to the tube station?

Juliet Cole ● 3889d40 Comments

Groundworks has restarted. It's very deep though. It's looking promising!

Naweed Shams ● 2985d

If my memory is correct, the original plan included a sloped access to the station only, suitable for wheelchairs, but no wheelchair access to the platforms, although there were suggestions of a link between HS2/Crossrail/Elizabeth Line and the Chiltern line towards High Wycombe, with additional platforms and facilities at North Acton before the end of the world.

Christopher Bell ● 3115d

There is access but you need to walk around the site and it's very cramped when commuters are leaving and entering at the same time. Whereas if there was an entrance similar to Ealing Broadway, life would be so much easier.

Naweed Shams ● 3115d

Is this square needed for access to the station or is it a waste of Council money?

Chris Lucy ● 3119d

I posted an update on my twitter account about this @loveacton

Naweed Shams ● 3121d

It should make an excellent site for the travellers

Christopher Bell ● 3130d

The planting plan was agreed at the end of June and it does look like there will be plenty of greenery ... although the plans are all line drawings in black and white.https://pam.ealing.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OQ7JM2JM08U00

Paul Webster ● 3131d

Goog grief. They will have completed two tower blocks by the time the council has built one square.

Bob Crossley ● 3131d

Received this message from Ealing council rep:The work has started and we have already decontaminated the site and removed several hundred tons of soil but then had to pause while we obtained the agreements of neighbouring landowners that are required as we going to g=dig down to the level of the station. The site has just been cleared by a temporary user. Next week work should start on test pits to help finalise the design of the retaining walls and shortly after the next stage of construction will start. Its planned to be finished by next March. Seems it's back on track an hopefully the area will shortly benefit from a nice new space. Really hope for lots of greenery, this area desperately needs it

Algirdas Rutkauskas ● 3131d

Great progress being made I see.

Howard Davidson ● 3586d

I'm a bit confused, so all this work is being done to 'move the cycle hub and create its new location'? I don't see how or why they need the square as a construction site as the hub designer 'Cyclehoop' states 'The current design is also flexible as well as fully modular should relocation be necessary in the future.' And the Ealing Borough website says 'The hub will be relocated as part of this development and the current design is flexible enough to ensure that this can be achieved both easily and economically.' So far it doesn't seem to be either and it's only just begun.

Howard Davidson ● 3624d

Thank you Daniel Crawford for obtaining this information for me:-The first stage of the soil removal on the North Acton Station square site has begun. This involves moving 1300m2 of soil ( the top metre of the whole site).. After this, work will take place to move the cycle hub and create its new location and this work will involve using the station square space as construction site for the cycle hub. This will also involve building one of the retaining walls for the station square to speed up its construction. From here on the site should be in active construction until the new square is open and there will not be any long periods in which the site is idle.

Bob Crossley ● 3625d

Was this not contaminated land?

Dee Cook ● 3625d

Diggers moved onto the site this morning, and a welfare unit was installed...not quite sure what they've done, as it was dark when I came back past, but at least something is happening!

Elly Belpassi ● 3625d

Over a quarter of the budget spent digging a hole in the ground, which still needs to be quite a bit deeper before anything is constructed on the site. I'd guess 'slippage' means work stops because they know they're going to go over budget and can't find any more money.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3643d

Jon wasn't able to get any more than that.

Paul Webster ● 3643d

Hi can you explain what is meant by 'slippage'?

Howard Davidson ● 3643d

TFL are considering running Chiltern Line trains via a re-built and extended North Acton station. Also a possible link from Park Royal Piccadilly line to a new station on the Central and extended Chiltern lines. Other possibilities include links to Crossrail and HS2 from the West Coast Main Line, the Chiltern Line from Harrow-on-the-Hill, and the Dollis Hill line, but NOT the Southern line from Milton Keynes to beyond West Croydon.

Christopher Bell ● 3644d

I just had some feedback from Jon Ball at council finance scrutiny meeting today ...1.1 million budgeted for 2014/15 but only spent 300k (as we can see from lack of progress)Reason ... slippageHe tried

Paul Webster ● 3644d

Now that's a good idea Ms Kemp!

Brian May ● 3644d

If Ealing council had any foresight they would work with TFL and move North Acton station slightly to the east, so that there could be an interchange with the Overground. Plenty of land available to do it and as the station itself is little more than a shed, the only real cost would be the re-signalling.

Libby Kemp ● 3644d

No cant answer Howard but bumped into a central Acton councilor a couple of days ago and he is going to update me on "progress" ! though it's not in his ward. It's now 11 months since they started. I bet the skyscraper will be finished first.

Bob Crossley ● 3644d

It's called London Borough of Ealing, under the Administration and Control of The Labour Party for several years now.And you're all surprised by the incompetence shown???I correct myself, I don't think anyone is in the least bit surprised. Worse, it was all expected.

Brian May ● 3644d

Hi all, Can someone give me the details of what is going on here? If it's that the council purchased it, at what cost? Was there a discussion with the community about the purchase beforehand? Would you happen to know where in the borough budget the money came from?Thanks,H

Howard Davidson ● 3644d

What a lovely job they've made of the square

Bob Crossley ● 3764d

I'm quite used to project management, and I'm at a loss as to how it could be costing more than forecast? It was obviously very contaminated - walking past when they were digging it out almost made you choke, the smell of fuel was so strong - and they must have known how much earth needed moving? Even if they erred on the side of overestimation.Still, residents of North Acton are used to the entire place looking like a building site. Why on earth did they kick the petrol station out so long before they were ready to commence the project?

Elly Belpassi ● 3868d

Thanks Vlod. Once again someone has made a costly error, meanwhile the are is blighted.

Bob Crossley ● 3869d

At a West Acton Resident Association meeting last week, someone said that the scheme was having financial problems as it was costing more to dispose of the earth being dug out than originally forecast. It'll be expensive for sure as one suspects that much of the soil may need to be treated as contaminated waste (bound to have been fuel spills into the ground over the decades).

Vlod Barchuk ● 3869d

The design of the Square is such that the gradient will be gentle enough to be DDA client (I understand that the current sloped walkway is too steep to meet that requirement) but then you're stuck with stairs. It's the reverse of the situation faced by Brian Potter in an episode of Phoenix Nights; at the bottom of a flight of stairs from where he could see a lift to take him to all floors (I believe this was Bolton Magistrates Court, which actually did have such provision).

Vlod Barchuk ● 3884d

Local residents having been advised there are currently no plans in the immediate future to upgrade/improve North Acton station. You will still need to use the steps to access the station platform.

Siobhan Martin ● 3884d

I'm definitely hoping the whole station gets a revamp! If they're closing the ticket office they could re organise everything to get more/larger gates and hopefully a new bridge and a lift.Years ago they had all the drawings done up for lifts and a new bridge, but nothing ever came of it.

Elly Belpassi ● 3884d

I wonder if there is going to be any disabled access to the platforms. It's all well and good building a fancy ramp to the entrance, but once there it's stairs up and down.

Anne Brown ● 3884d

That looks pretty good to me and better than I had expected.What is the big box in the middle right?

Paul Webster ● 3886d

I was assured by the council that the bike hub would be quickly and easily moved into a new position within the square...but no mention back then of them ripping it out for 6 months in the meantime!! It's a lovely cycle rack, but possibly the worst thought-out bit of planning with it's installation ever!

Elly Belpassi ● 3886d

Trying to understand... so they spend how much money and time to build a 'cycle hub' (with photo op's included)? To then tear it down and have no place to park our bikes for "6 months"? Whoever got that contract sure made out big time.

Howard Davidson ● 3887d

Bob Crossley ● 3889d

"and then the next step is moving the cycle hub who will use the site for access and materials storage. This is a major project and will take six months after which we can be in a position to start the construction of the square."I don't think I understand what the above means! The cycle hub will use which site? Or is someone using the cycle hub site? The cycle hub took months and months to be put in place a short while ago - is it moving for the duration of the build??

Elly Belpassi ● 3889d

Letter I received last week from Dan CrawfordFurther to our earlier correspondence with regards to the works at North Acton, an officer has been in touch to provide me with the following information:'The works so far are the demolition of the station by Esso which is now completed but the land has not been transferred to us yet. We hope this will be at the end of June and then the next step is moving the cycle hub who will use the site for access and materials storage. This is a major project and will take six months after which we can be in a position to start the construction of the square.'I have asked to be given confirmation by the officer when the site is handed over to the Council this month and to be kept updated on progress. If there is any further information you require or if you have more questions, please let me know and I will endeavour to get them answered for you.

Bob Crossley ● 3889d

A new 'square' being constructed, which will consist of a walkway down to the station, with landscaping and some shops. No works will be done on the station itself. The petrol station was purchased by the Council (sum not known).

Vlod Barchuk ● 3889d