Forum Topics

The non-questionnaire re GoApe

This is NOT a questionnaire - it's largely a sales pitch. I've emailed the leaders of Ealing and Hounslow councils and David Bowler of the Community Interest (??) Group asking them to answer the following 5 questions and have yet to receive answers.1.What is the aim of the GoApe consultation process? If it’s to obtain people’s views on whether GoApe should go ahead, the simplistic on-line questionnaire fails miserably. Only one question covers this. The remainder of the questionnaire describes GoApe (it’s a sales pitch), shows where it will be located, asks for the completer’s borough and age (why is age relevant?), and asks which groups of people should obtain a discount (suggesting it’s a done deal). 2. What questions will be asked during the drop-in sessions?3.Focusing on the one meaningful question, how will the graded answer options be analysed? What weight will be given to the answer of each of the 5 options?  And what criteria will be used in drawing conclusions from the data analysis? 4. Why is there an ‘OK’ button below the GoApe photos?  Does clicking ‘OK’ indicate a form of acceptance of GoApe?5. Why will the results of the GoApe consultation process only be available to the Community Interest Company Board? Why keep the results from those who truly value Gunnersbury Park?

Patricia McCarthy ● 2946d7 Comments ● 2945d

A forgotten famous Ealing resident

IM  John Owen  24 8 1685 'I am going to him whom my soul has loved, or rather, who has loved me with an everlasting love; which is the whole ground of my consolation.' - John Owen dying 23 8 1685Owen lived and died in Ealing after the restoration. He had been chosen to preach to parliament on the day after the execution of King Charles I, and succeeded in fulfilling his task without directly mentioning that event.Oliver Cromwell, who took Owen to Ireland as his chaplain, that he might regulate the affairs of Trinity College, Dublin. In 1650 he accompanied Cromwell on his Scottish campaign. In March 1651, Cromwell, as Chancellor of Oxford University, gave him the deanery of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and made him Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in September 1652. A prolific author, his later works were all written in Ealing. Ealing has managed to forget him unlike Richard Baxter who lived in Acton.

Graham Weeks ● 2945d0 Comments ● 2945d

The continued desecration of Gunnersbury Park

While I am not in favour of the continued commercialisation of Gunnersbury Park and the overpriced designer cafe with attitude problems, if the new sports hub and the zip wire render it unusable as a  festival venue I shall be a happy person. If it is still possible to hold festivals there then might I suggest a wildlife area and centre in the middle of the remaining space and an angling centre by the pond, and if that doesn't work then a mobile communications tower as well. With a bit of luck that should put paid to the festivals.In my opnion ALL Ealing festivals should be held on Ealing Common which is well provisioned with vehicular and public transport access.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2948d4 Comments ● 2945d

Section 60 CJPOA 1994

So this was invoked between 17:00 yesterday and 04:00 this morning. Presumably intelligence led. Did anything happen?

Andrew Mcauley ● 2946d3 Comments ● 2945d

August smile

What name do you give a lady who has to tell a joke twice? Repunzel.Son: “Dad, we’re learning about prisms at school. They’re fascinating.”Dad: “That’s good son, because as a dyslexic black boy you’re bound to end up in one.” Paddy decides to take up boxing and goes for the required medical. A few days later the doctor ‘phones and says “Paddy, you realise you’ve got sugar diabetes.”Paddy says, “Nice one, when do I fight him?” A dwarf goes to a very good but very busy doctor and asks "I know you are busy but do you treat dwarves?"The doctor replies "Yes, but you will have to be a little patient". In hindsight I should have posted my Facebook status as: "I've blown the head gasket on my 1997 XR3i" rather than "I've just bu**ered a  14 year old escort".The police still haven't seen the funny side, my lap top's been confiscated, and the wife has gone off to her mother.A Yorkshire man takes his cat to the vet.Yorkshireman: "Ayup, lad, I need to talk to thee about me cat."Vet: "Is it a tom?"Yorkshireman: "Nay, I've browt it with us."A Yorkshireman's dog dies and as it was a favourite pet he decides to have a gold statue made by a jeweller to remember the dog by.Yorkshireman: "Can tha mek us a gold statue of yon dog?"Jeweller: "Do you want it 18 carat?"Yorkshireman: "No I want it chewin' a bone yer daft begger!"The last is always bestBloke from Barnsley with piles asks chemist "Nah then lad, does tha sell arse cream?"Chemist replies "Aye, Magnum or Cornetto?"

Graham Weeks ● 2949d2 Comments ● 2946d

Premium Price Paid for South Ealing Wickes Site

God help us if the new owners of the Wickes site want to build a residential tower block there. On the other hand if the site was to become an ALdi, Lidl, or ASDA than that would address the social community necessities of South Ealing from the new developments on the south side of the A4 through to Ealing Broadway with its half-sized Tesco, Morrisons et al. However, the Wickes in South Ealing is not a full Wickes as it only carries about three-quarters of the product range, an 'Ealing-factor' where all our superstores are too small due to freeholder/land-owner greed and deficient planning policy so I don't hope out too much hope for something that is not an overpriced convenience store of sorts

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2951d4 Comments ● 2947d

The Gazette goes downhill again

I have written to them but do not expect publication.Your article Secrets of a Web Cam Model is near to pornography in promoting sexual exploitation of the impoverished and the foolish. 'Pornography is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal.'

Graham Weeks ● 2948d5 Comments ● 2947d

NOT another (slum of the future short lifespan) block of flats PLEASE (Wickes site South Ealing)

As Ealing is beaten into mediocrity by the rise of profiteering property developers building huge blocks of ecologically unsustainable flats with short lifespans (20 or 30 years) that clash with the victorian architecture we muat ask questions about what is going to happen with the site that has just changed hands that has the Wickes store on it in South Ealing.God help us if the new owners of the Wickes site want to build a residential tower block there.On the other hand if the site was to become an Aldi, Lidl, or ASDA than that would address the social community necessities of South Ealing from the new developments on the south side of the A4 through to Ealing Broadway with its half-sized Tesco, Morrisons et al. However, like many stores in the high land cost and high rent area of W5 including the shopping centre the Wickes in South Ealing is not a full Wickes as it is just not large enough. It only carries about three-quarters of the product range, an 'Ealing-factor' where all our superstores are too small due to freeholder/land-owner greed and deficient planning policy so I don't hold out too much hope for something that is not a development combining overpriced small retail spaces (no doubt to be filled with yet more chicken shops, hairdressers and small convenience stores) with shoebox studio flats so expensive that they will only be crammed with groups of students to each room, so I guess an overpriced convenience store of sorts is the best that we can expect there in future.

Mark Julian Raymond ● 2950d12 Comments ● 2948d

Lidl in Northolt

Any idea where this is planned to be on Ruislip Road?

Graham Weeks ● 2948d2 Comments ● 2948d

Ealing council officers never Use their phones to enquiries

Why do Ealing officials have their Telephones and positions published when almost every one of them never seem to pick them up to answer any resident wishing to contact them? We are treated to a advert they wish to publish or something they wish to tell you and after that refer you to an ON LINE advert only. If they wish to do that just to save money then I think they could save MORE by NOT having special phones to that department. Yes I know that will never happen but i am really stressed out trying to use the Numbers Ealing council publishes for us to use for urgent contacts.

Os a whittle ● 2953d4 Comments ● 2951d

Cpz price rise for diesel cars

Can someone explain why cpz costing is going upbased on CO2 of a parked car. This is nothing but theft. If that’s the case why electrics cars have to pay for cpz. I understand if it was a nationwide scheme but is just handful of crupt greedy councils in London. Last year when they first introduced cpz in West Ealing we all said this is what’s going to happen. Now they got us we should excpet rise.

Mehdi Nili ● 2962d15 Comments ● 2951d

Rental Search

Looking for a 2 bed property to rent.Please pm me if anyone has anything available.Thank you in advance

Annabel Grbic ● 2951d0 Comments ● 2951d

Rupa Huq on Any Questions Tonight

Think this might be entertaining. I like her as an MP but she can sometimes make some ill-considered comments. It will be very interesting to see if she can contain herself when talking about Boris Johnson.

Dennis O'Shea ● 2959d9 Comments ● 2953d

EALING COUNCIL GUILTY OF MALADMINSTRATION

Ealing Council has been found guilty of maladministration by the Ombudsman for refusing to accept a complaint made by myself and 5 of my neighbours.  It concerned a run-down HMO on Uxbridge Road.  The rooms were damp.  The walls were mouldy and crumbling.  The fire-escape route was blocked with furniture and rubbish and there were no fire-doors.  The owner was forced to upgrade it.  No credit to him.   It shouldn’t have been in that state to start with.  Despite his record, the Council reappointed him as a fit and proper person to manage the place.   This is the Council that pretends to care about the conditions people live in! The Council refused to accept the complaint.  It was for that the Ombudsman found it guilty of maladministration.   Four senior officers were involved.   The last, the Executive Director for Corporate Resources,  threatened to declare us “persistent complainants” if we carried on.   We carried on and the Ombudsman supported us, not him.Did they learn their lesson?  No. The  Executive Director for Corporate Resources went ahead, accused us being persistent complainants and imposed a sanction.  Preposterous.  The Ombudsman found us right to persist.  If anything, the Executive Director should have apologised.  We asked CEO Najsarek to dissociate himself from his nonsense.  He failed to do that.  We have made a formal complaint about both of them.  We’ll keep you informed of its progress. The Ombudsman asked the Council to remind officers to handle complaints properly in future.  Two senior officers are still taking not a scrap of notice and sitting on complaints.  Disobeying their employer’s instruction.   Bad enough the LGO rebukes the Council.   10 times worse when the Council treats its findings with cynical scorn.  We were awarded a sum of money.  Who pays?   Thank you, people of Ealing.  You do, from your council tax.  We not only have to pay the salaries of these people we have to compensate ourselves for their misconduct.  This complaint was about senior officers and handled by senior officers.  They are a corrupt collective, covering up for one another. They get away with it because they know they can.  As long as they remain in post, no one can trust the Council’s complaints procedure. No one can trust the Council.What happened to the officer who reappointed the manager?  He is now in charge of Safer Communities.  Hope the fire-brigade is on alert.  It could only happen in London’s rottenest Borough!  

vincent paul WRIGLEY ● 2976d19 Comments ● 2953d

CAPITAL LETTERS

Why all the shouting, guys?

Simon Deakin ● 2959d5 Comments ● 2953d

Crossrail Heathrow Trains Not Stopping at West Ealing?

Looking at the map here (https://londonist.com/london/transport/how-frequently-will-crossrail-trains-run) the Heathrow bound trains will be stopping at Hanwell and Acton Main Line but not West Ealing.That would mean a change of trains required - in fact two if you are going to Terminal 5.If accurate seems bizarre that West Ealing will be the only station on the line between Paddington and Heathrow without a direct link. Anyone in a position to confirm or otherwise?

Philip Coe ● 2967d4 Comments ● 2953d

Copyright Infringement.

Does anyone by any chance have a copy of the 1989 True Detective Winter Special? I am particularly interested in the content on page 35. Master Detective, part of the True Detective Group refuse to send me a scan of what is published on page 35 but they have forwarded me a scan of the front and inside page stating that a story on page 35 deals with former Hammersmith, Fulham and Putney child killer Harold Jones. They won't send me the scan because they have stolen photographs that I own copyright of and they have used them in the August 2018 edition of Master Detective. They have scanned about 12 of my photos directly from my book Every Mother's Nightmare - Abertillery in Mourning to use in the August edition. They state in an email to me that I should be grateful that they recommend my book.

Neil Milkins ● 2960d1 Comments ● 2954d

French Appeal to find Flt Eng Sgt Alfred David Hawkins' family

His family is listed as having come from Hanwell. His Lancaster bomber on a mission to Reims crashed with no survivors in Picardy in 1944.Was his wife a Bennett?  Who are the Strong family?  Who is Joan Hawkins?https://www.veteransfoundation.org.uk/news/posts/april-2017/april-news/french-appeal-to-find-relatives-of-deceased-hanwell-airman/http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&page=easgthawkins001.htmTake a look at the info on the article on this website above and see why there is renewed interest in finding relatives.The son of Henry Gransby and Edith Mary Hawkins nee Wraight and the husband of Dorothy Phyllis Hawkins of Hanwell.His parents appear to have married in Watford in 1913with his birth registered in St Albans in 1916 with a sister born a couple of years later.It looks as though he may have married in Brentford. Also looks like his widow may have remarried to Frederick Star-PaveyNow that's a more unusual name than Bennett, Hawkins, Strong and Wraight!  Sadly she seems to have died a couple of years later in Ealing and her widower remarried in Somerset.Anybody have any info to help put the residents of Belloy in touch with the family of this airman?

Philippa Bond ● 2962d2 Comments ● 2955d

BANKS AND MONEY- INTEREST

It seems Banks do not wish to pass the interest rise to Savers,ANSWERPUT YOUR MONEY SOME WHERE ELSE,SIMPLES.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 2959d2 Comments ● 2957d

Health Concerns Over Southall Development Article

Support the Clean Air For Southall Group by signing and sharing their online petition for an improvement in odour mitigation measures at the Southall Waterside site, which wasformerly known as Southall Gas Works. There are serious concerns about air quality and health matters, as the soil was contaminated with benzene which is carcinogenic and asbestos.https://www.change.org/p/cleanair-for-southall-stop-berkeleygroupuk-s-southallwaterside-makingsouthallstink-southalllivesmatter?recruiter=508058618&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petitionIf the link doesn't work, search for the petition on www.change.org by typing in Southall Waterside in the search box.The Clean Air For Southall Group is holding a public meeting on:Monday 13th August 2018Location: Roxy New Tandoori Restaurant, 114-118 The Green, Southall UB2 4BQTime: 6.00pm-8.00pmYou can also find out more by joining the Clean Air For Southall Facebook group.

Angela Fonso ● 2959d0 Comments ● 2959d