Standing room only at first new style meeting
More than 100 people crowded into a children’s centre in Northfields on Thursday to take part in Ealing’s first ward forum.
There was standing room only at the new style meeting, which replaces the old, poorly attended area committees.
Led by ward councillors David Millican, Mark Reen and Phil Taylor, residents were asked to identify issues in their local area. Many people shared their views on subjects as wide ranging as hanging baskets, dog fouling, blocking off alleyways and road safety.
Residents even applauded the Council for recent improvements in waste and recycling services and street cleanliness.
People attending the forum were also given the opportunity to suggest how £40,000 should be spent to improve the ward. All the ideas for where the money should go have been noted down and will be brought back to future meetings to decide which projects should get the go ahead.
Northfields Ward Councillor David Millican, who chaired the first forum, said: “If numbers are a measure of success then this first ward forum really was a triumph for democracy. I was absolutely delighted that so many people turned out for the ward forum and that so many people who I spoke to afterwards felt that it was such a positive step.”
All 23 wards in the borough will be launching ward forums. The next meetings will be:
September
Acton Central
17 Sept, 7.30-9.30pm at St Mary’s Church, 1 The Mount
Cleveland
18 Sept, 7.30-9.30pm at The Brentham Club, 38a Meadvale Road, Ealing
East Acton
29 Sept, 7.00-9pm at St Gabriels Church, Noel Road
Greenford Green
24 Sept, 7.30-9.30pm at St Barnabus Church Hall, Raglan Way
Hobbayne
16 Sept, 7-9pm at Assembly Hall, Brentside High School, Greenford Avenue
Lady Margaret
12 Sept, 7-10pm at Church of the Redeemer, 299 Allenby Road, Southall
Northolt Mandeville
17 Sept, 7-9pm at Northolt Village Community Centre, The Manor House, Ealing Road, Northolt
Southall Broadway
26 Sept, 7-9pm at Hamborough School, South Road, Southall
Walpole
18 Sept, 7-10pm at St John’s Church lounge, Mattock Lane, Ealing
October
Ealing Common
14 Oct, 8-10pm at the upstairs function room, Grange Pub, Warwick Road, Ealing
Elthorne
6 Oct, 7-9pm in the main school hall at Elthorne High School, Westlea Road, Hanwell
Greenford Broadway
23 Oct, 7-9pm at the Cyril Grant Hall, Greenford Hall, Ruislip Road, Greenford
Hanger Hill
13 Oct, 7.30-9.30pm at the Church of Ascension, Beaufort Road
Northolt West End
6 Oct, 7-10pm at Viking Primary School, Radcliffe Way, Northolt
Forums will meet at least three times a year and will be publicised through ward newsletters. Copies of the newsletters and details of the meetings are available via the Council’s website at www.ealing.gov.uk/committees. Notes from each meeting will also be published online.
September 13, 2008