Forum Topic

Evening Standard - Spotlight on Ealing...

Reading today's issue of Homes & Property in the Evening Standard, and there is a Spotlight on Ealing.  The article is regaling the area, with 'Ealing is getting better' and a list of all the proposed improvements with cinema, shops, restaurants, a new shopping street, etc.  Bearing in mind Acton is in the borough of Ealing - when will it be our turn for things to get better, if ever.  More and more flats being built, less and less for anyone to shop in.  A handful of food stores and the odd gift shop do not an enticing area make.  When will the spotlight finally get onto Acton - seemingly Ealing's ugly little Cinderella...

Helen New ● 2749d45 Comments

Some posters were saying that more professional people were moving into the new builds and that with that we should see better shops moving in. My feeling is that anyone who can travel the extra couple of miles to Sainsbury's or Waitrose will shop there as long as Morrisons continues in its current form, with its muddled range and cramped aisles. Which means that there is not much point in good new shops opening in Acton if people still have to travel to find a good supermarket. That's what I mean by a blight on the idea of better shops opening.I'm not sure the market is an improvement on the farmers' market. Are there any greengrocers, bakers, etc now?

Norman Redfern ● 2741d

The Acton Farmers Market shut down because it was not profitable for the traders. The council did invest in the Mount and we have a market which is slowly improving again.Morrisons is at least a supermarket in the town centre and provides car parking for its own visitors as well as to others who shop elsewhere in Acton.I'm not quite sure how this is a blight on the area.I'm with those who express the glass half full approach and don't believe in just doing Acton down all the time. I also don't agree that Churchfield Road was dire just 3 years ago - how insulting to those who have invested in and supported businesses over many years!A more positive attitude about our neighbourhood would go a long way towards making some of the improvements that people would like to see. Sadly the more negative approach appears to dominate on forum posts such as this.

Tony Bailey ● 2741d

I think the over-packaging of things like fruit and veg is a peculiarly British thing. I've been to supermarkets in the USA where there are great mounds of avocados, tomatoes, potatoes etc and very little is pre-packed in plastic. In fact I think it was Morrisons that introduced the idea of shrink-wrapping things like apples here, one of many sins they have committed against local shoppers.It's a great shame that the farmers' market was shut down in Acton. I went to the one in West Hampstead recently and it had a good atmosphere, people milling around buying fruit and veg, fresh bread and pizzas cooked to order. The current Acton market is probably popular with a lot of people but it - like Morrisons - is a bit of a blight on the idea of Acton as a smart place for better shops to open.

Norman Redfern ● 2742d

We've never actually been to Westfield - not even at Christmas!  The teenage kids of course have...  looking for unnecessary things to buy that they didn't know they needed until they saw them. The smaller shops around are far more interesting with shopkeepers that you get to know - and you can often buy stuff without all that awful packaging.

Philippa Bond ● 2742d

Please, get real! The big brands open in places where there is lot of footfall and even if Acton did have that kind of footfall, there just isn't retail space large enough for them.If you don't fancy getting on your bike or go on a bus (607 is fast and convenient), well, then that's your problem. You decided to move/stay here. Acton will never be your kind of shopping haven, and even Hammersmith/Eaing have endless empty shops these days; Westfield is here to stay.It is most likely that the former club by the railway bridge will be turned into flats. Nobody in their right mind would open a shop there as the footfall borders zero.Be positive and explore the small shops and market stalls, most of which are reasonably priced - we are spoilt for choice when it comes to fruit and veg, fish, bread, cake, meat and even household goods if you look around. You can get DIY stuff, a huge range of yummy foreign fares (just walk into Hakikat or Mleczko, for example - they have amazing stuff), and there is Savers that is way cheaper than Boots.If you do shop around, you are going to meet lovely shopkeepers/staff, happy to welcome you back and invest in you by giving you a personal recommendation, for example. Please, stop maligning Acton.

Urs Esser ● 2742d

Yes that's what I thought,, I used to visit The Oaks quite often shame it had to go, admittedly no large stores but used to buy quite a lot there, like you I do miss Woolworths, are we sad...Lol.

Janice Evans ● 2742d

Janice, Primark have their own website where you can see their range, but you cannot actually buy online.  All rather pointless if you don't have a branch nearby!

Helen New ● 2742d

Hi Helen, Primark advertise online, but I tried to buy some towels and you cannot purchase them online, if you can will you tell me how am I doing something wrong maybe,  Primark do bring people to the area, also buy their throws and they are very good, wash well and not expensive.

Janice Evans ● 2742d

Well Richard, clearly the shops now are not encouraging footfall - hence people going elsewhere.  Walk around the high street, the Mount, etc - and you see Primark bags, H&M bags, Zara bags for example - all shops that have a high footfall, all shops that are not available in Acton.  So people travel to these areas to shop, have a coffee, maybe a bite to eat.  Nobody comes to Acton specifically to have a coffee etc, so the footfall needs to be encouraged with shops.  This way, the residents profit from the shops locally - less having to travel to other areas - the shops do, and hopefully the added bonus of residents from other area's coming here to shop, have a coffee, and a bite to eat.

Helen New ● 2742d

Janice, for example Primark sell online - but they won't open a branch here.  Shame, as they sell menswear, womenswear, childrenswear, household goods for the bedroom, kitchen, living room etc, gifts.  We used to have a Woolworths - we need some shops that size for people to invest in the area, then the smaller shops, and then we have a high street, people are spending in the area, it flourishes.  But if people wish to keep saying that to keep building flats is a great thing, and that the high street is improving - well, no, it isn't.  Acton used to have aforementioned Woolies, three cinemas, etc - now...

Helen New ● 2742d

Norman, sorry I didn't make myself very clear.  I meant a proper store, not a small, local shop.  I telephoned both Primark and H&M as examples, to ask if they would consider opening a branch in Acton, as we have no stores here, and are in need of them.  Not always convenient to get a bus/tube/drive and pay to park to another area, shop there (thereby investing in that area) then back again.  Both companies told me they 'would never open in Acton.'  I found that very disappointing, as we had at the time the bingo hall (now to become a climbing center...), the sites of the two nightclubs on the High Street (going toward the railway bridge) which will probably end up as more flats!  Maybe a proper sized Boots (not the teeny one we have, and no, I don't fancy travelling to another area to get one thing!  Bad for the environment, and I would rather walk to the high street and invest in my area so they profit and grow - not other areas - they have their own residents and visitors to invest in their area - who comes to Acton to shop, as we do with Westfield, Ealing, Hammersmith, etc?

Helen New ● 2742d

Think the high stamp duty is something to do with it, people are adding extensions instead of moving.

Janice Evans ● 2742d

Thanks for posting.The market has slowed for house and flat sales all over London. It is not specific to Acton and is cyclical caused by a variety of things including over-price and Brexit. The good thing about the Acton Gardens is that is mixed tenure (private for sale, private for rent, shared ownership and social housing) so this is one of the ways that developers do not become over reliant on one type of person. The high street will never have big chains but Shoreditch and Chiswick don't really either. What it will have is smaller business catering to people who want something they can walk to. The Arts Centre, sports facilities, restaurants, coffee shops and gift shops are examples. Obviously good old fried chicken and burger shops will always feature! Churchfield Rd is an example of something that was dire as recent as 3 years ago and is now approaching desirable.

Louis Bradshaw ● 2742d

I think this is the article originally referred to:https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/area-guides/ealing-borough/ealing/living-in-ealing-area-guide-to-homes-schools-and-transport-a122586.htmlby the OP.

Philippa Bond ● 2742d

The property market is reacting to challenging conditions globally, there has been a big run up in prices in the past few years and now there is a pause in buying. A similar thing happened around 2007/2008 - there was an oversupply of flats bu they did sell and a new cycle started which is now ending. The question is what will the developers do? Drop prices to get them off their books or hold out until the next investment cycle starts which is likely to be around 2020/2021. The market should determine what will happen to these flats. To suggest that NO ONE will want to buy them EVER is crazy. People will buy when the conditions and price are right.

Nathan Macrides ● 2743d

The question is two fold people need quality of life and a roof over their head...The problem is poor management no good building high rise flats which are left empty, these flats don't bring foot traffic to shops.. The other is under investment in Acton High Street. For the past 30 years of investing in building my own large portfolio I have seen much change in Acton. The only good thing was the knocking down of South Acton Estate!! I live in hope that the High Street will get better, but I have little faith in large chains opening up. Just take M&S or Waitrose pulling out of the Oaks!!! Not a good sign.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2743d

Or rather that people don't want to live in them.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

They are sayIng most of the flats are empty.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

Agreed, building more homes should bring more people to the area which should drive demand for more and better shops. People complaining about the building need to understand that demand drives change. New more affluent residents should move into the area, that's how gentrification works.

Nathan Macrides ● 2743d

More shops less people doesn't add up. If we want more shops that are economically viable we need more footfall and that means more people. One of the things that keeps shops of any kinds  in Acton is population density.What kind of shops they are is a different question ...

Richard Grange ● 2743d

I have no problem with QUALITY one & two bedroom London flats being built, they just don't ALL have to be in Acton, especially if stacked skywards in very ugly Towers.As I have said, there is a clear Agenda for Acton under "Two Houses, Two Jobs, Tory Cuts" and his Southall Posse.

Rosco White ● 2743d

Also lots of collection points for those who do buy online, to bring them to the High Street.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

Then we need a few shops there that don't sell online, that people have to visit to get what they want, that would bring more people to the High Street.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

I am new here but have been reading this site for about a year. I agree with this poster. I am one of the people who have moved to the new flats being built replacing the not particularly nice buildings that were there. The transformation of this area is impressive. What new flats bring is housing for young people who are being priced out of the market. It also crucially brings money to the area which is necessary to support any new shops or restaurants on the terrible High Street. On my floor of 5 flats we have one BA pilot, one Finance Director for a large construction company, 3 IT people and 2 City workers. This is new money and people that believe in Acton. I have lived in Acton for 13 years and have seen a lot of progress. The current developments in my view will be the tipping point. The council can't invest in anything except infrastructure. It is businesses that invest. The existing residents clearly do not provide a big enough pool of potential spenders to encourage businesses to set up. That is the sad fact.

Louis Bradshaw ● 2743d

Actually I do see improvement in Acton - and it has kept much of its old charm. The community is great, redundant sites being developed (yes largely for flats...) Churchfield Road is much better and more sustainable than it was, CrossRail is coming. There is plenty I don't like about the way Ealing Council treats its residents but the lack of high quality shops on the High St is more to do with us not shopping locally. If the demand was there then the good shops will come - its all market forces. Acton just doesn't have the pull of Chiswick, Westfield and Ealing but that doesn't make it a bad place to live. If you prefer Chiswick then why not move there? Its simply not right to paint Acton as a bad place.And 1 and 2 bedroom flats - yes we need them - how else can young people afford to live here especially if we all believe that gentrification is the only thing that matters?

Tony Bailey ● 2743d

I moved here 30 years ago because I figured it was going to be "The New Islington"I'm still waiting and I don't think it's ever going to happen.It is VERY clear what the agenda is at The Ealing Kremlin.

Rosco White ● 2743d

What about shop sharing, two businesses in one shop to halve the cost, would that work now, it used to be done years ago.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

True you can buy most things cheaper online and not have to leave your home, but Primark have taken the lead from all the top stores and I don't think they sell online, but they are very cheap, so people will go out to get cheaper.  As you say with the rates etc., smaller shops cannot sell cheaply they have to cover the costs and this why they don't last long.

Janice Evans ● 2743d

or buy online.  Everybody nowadays craves cheap and doesn't seem to consider value as well.  I think shops have to offer more of a service.  Somewhere where the sales people have a good technical knowledge of the stock they are selling perhaps?  Something more bespoke perhaps?  You can browse online and price online so there must be more.  There is a horrible trend of browsing in store for a particular brand and then finding the cheapest deal elsewhere online for it.Business rates tend to be high nowadays - just look at the problems that Chiswick High Road is having with 22 shops closed. How can shops engage with their customers and persuade them to come out to shop?  Clean the street outside their shop and report broken paving stones and dumped rubbish - yes - AND persuade the Council to deep clean the streets!

Philippa Bond ● 2743d

See what Helen is saying, women are busy and don't want to spend all day travelling to buy what they need, especially if having to pay for parking etc., you end up spending more, also see your point for lots of people who have the time to travel out a little further to shop, I wish someone would come up with a solution to the problem, mainly running a shop has become to expensive now unless you have one large store that sells everything and Don't see that happening either.

Janice Evans ● 2744d

I know what you're saying, Helen, but nowadays why would anyone buy a duvet or a TV from a small local shop with a limited range when for the price of a bus ride they can see a much wider choice and more competitive prices at Westfield? If Acton is to become an attractive shopping centre - which would be great - it won't be because big retail brands invest here, and it won't be because small shops open selling things you can buy more cheaply a couple of miles away.

Norman Redfern ● 2744d

That as may well be, Peter, but investment also needs to come through shops on the high street - ones that many people need, not just a select few.  Personally, I have no need for fast-food outlets, nor 10 estate agents, etc, but I do have need for food stores, clothing etc stores, homeware stores (where you can buy plants, flower pots, duvets, tv's, lighting, etc).  The shops on the high street are very specific, so if you need all the above, you have to travel to another area (spending money on travel/parking) to then spend money in another area.  I would rather have our own shops to spend money in, and thereby, investing in our area.

Helen New ● 2744d

And the plans for the new arts centre in the old library?

Sara Nathan ● 2744d

Besides the new leisure centre and the library, I forgot the two new primary schools in Acton and the new community facilities coming to South Acton Estate and improvements to the Overground line. Not quite zero investment.

Peter Evans ● 2744d

Zero, zero investment they are not interested in regenerating the High Street just more of the same old failure.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2744d

Regeneration of Town Hall and Magistrates Court?What this means in reality is that these have been sold off by the council to property developers and turned into flats. That is not regeneration. It's a monoculture of endless 1 and 2 bedroom flats.The point here is that, yes, retail is undergoing change and competition from online retailing but the high street is just uncared for, dirty and not a place you want to spend any time. The council could incentivise businesses, look after the trees that are planted etc etc.What are the council's plans for Acton?

Mark Jarvis ● 2744d

Philippa, travel to Ealing, Chiswick, Putney, Kensington and other popular high streets and see people shopping and enjoying the fruits of a well look after high street. The problem is that Ealing Council is not supporting local Acton shop keepers. All they seem to do is drive things down down until there is nothing left... Very little investment in the infrastructure projects. All they are concerned about is building flats flats flats and more flats.. Have a read of what was actually written in the Evening Standard about the area.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2744d

What percentage of goods are now bought online?  Some people now seem to buy everything possible online. Not saying that this is a particularly good thing just that that is what is happening.

Philippa Bond ● 2744d

Thank you Nicolas!  If you stand on the High Street and turn in a circle, you can pretty much see the behemoth that is the Oaks - the flats above, the flats being built on Church Road, the Town Hall flats - flats, flats, flats, flats, flats!  That's just to name three and would imagine there are more on the way!  The problem is that there is no proper high street in Acton to cater for all these supposed people being enticed to the wonders of Acton.  No shops on the high street - and no, I mean shops where you can buy clothes, shoes, books, bedding, beauty, etc - what other high streets have. And it is a depressing high street.  So more people supposedly moving here to then go and shop in Ealing- where you can live and shop and enjoy the environment, and Westfield, Chiswick, Hammersmith, ditto - can you say the same for Acton High Street - should think not.  Yes, the park is fab, yes great to have a gym and pool, but people need clothes, shoes, furniture, pillows, duvets, etc - nothing that you can buy on our high street.

Helen New ● 2744d

Peter, read what people have posted more and more flats is not what residents of Acton want!! Its our enviroment people need better shops, cleaner roads open spaces, better schools etc.... Things that affect us all cramming in more people in an area like Acton is not helping the existing population.

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2744d

Zero investment in Acton?- New library, leisure centre and swimming baths- Regeneration of Town Hall and Magistrates Court- Redevelopment of Oaks shopping centre- Major regeneration of South Acton Estate/Acton Gardens- etc, etc

Peter Evans ● 2744d

As I think has been suggested on here, go and ask "Two Houses, Two Jobs, Tory Cuts" and his Cronies about their intentions for Acton.I think, however, we already know.

Rosco White ● 2748d

Yeah, but there's no cinema in Ealing either.

Susan Kelly ● 2748d

Fact is Susan, there is zero investment in Acton in comparison to Ealing.  And it shows.

Helen New ● 2749d

We'll believe the cinema when we see it.

Susan Kelly ● 2749d