In my experience the present Ealing Council does not inspire much confidence. One reason is the way that libraries have been downgraded and the council seemed so driven to do this, irrespective of public opinion. Another is planning: - getting rid of planning notification letters in June 2015, which in my case, earlier, was really useful and necessary when a development took place next door to me and my family. The then council leader Julian Bell said to me, in May 2015, that Tory cuts forced him to do this, and not notify the people likely to be affected by developments.Yet this council, under him and his successor seem to have all the time and money to endear themselves to developers. This, in order to build council tax farms in the form of erecting phallic death trap high rise towers, filled with rabbit hutch sized homes everywhere. Manor Road, by West Ealing station is an example of this, and not keeping records of what housing has been approved, legally required Authority Monitoring Reports for at least five years.Near where I live, the council banned cars left turns out of Longfield Avenue, by Ealing Town Hall into Uxbridge Road and right turns from Uxbridge Road into Longfield Avenue. This it seems to be a cynical cash raising exercise, increasing traffic elsewhere. All this so that the council top dogs can feel safe and "environmentally friendly" about themselves walking between the Town Hall and Perceval House.These are examples, further to your experience, James, that the present Ealing Council do not seem to use common sense and discretion on the ground. They seem to be disingenuous, virtue signalling and officious from above against the people. That is my opinion, and that is why I wrote comment earlier, on the 8th June. That is why the present Ealing Council does not fill me with much confidence.
Anthony Hawran ● 687d