Forum Topics

#Starliteselfie for 50th anniversary of opening

Today is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Starlite Ballroom in Allendale Road, North Greenford. We're asking everyone to take and tweet a #Starliteselfie at the junction of Allendale Road/Eastcote Lane with some of the Odeon tiling or 1960s panelling in the background. The campaign has been mentioned on air/online by Whispering Bob Harris, Ian Rankin and the Mike Harding Folk Show. The campaign's Twitter account (@SavetheStarlite) is being followed by Dave Davies of the Kinks who says it's a good cause. This is not a vanity project, it is worth millions to the borough in terms of tourist revenue and an inestimable amount in the community support it could provide. https://www.facebook.com/SavetheStarliteGreenfordhttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-hillary/starlite-demolition-more-_b_5761778.html

Albertina McNeill ● 4377d0 Comments ● 4377d

Care homes

My Aunt (81 yrs) is being kicked out of her care home (Kent  Lodge in Pitshanger), on the grounds that she is too much trouble for the care home concerned. Admittedly  there is an issue with her which relies on district nurse care. In the light of this rather unfortunate descision (communicated to me quite horribly), does anyone know of a good 24/7 Nursing Home in Ealing?

Perrin Anson ● 4396d7 Comments ● 4378d

Gunnersbury Park restoration

Does anyone know if a Contractor has been chosen for this or procurement route?Just curious as to who may be used for this scheme and when it's likely to kick off

Colin Goodman ● 4379d6 Comments ● 4378d

Builder Recommendation Needed

Hi All,Is anybody able to recommend a builder in order to have a studio flat gutted and renovated?  Many thanks.

Elizabeth Anna Thaddeus ● 4379d3 Comments ● 4378d

Salmond - Sturgeon

Salmond outSturgeon in?All seems a bit fishy to me

David P Archer ● 4382d14 Comments ● 4378d

Gasholders / Gasometers

So the rumour is the big blue gas holder in Southall will be long gone and demolished!What are your thoughts about this?(ignoring/putting aside your thoughts about the area itself for now)

Ron Gill ● 4383d20 Comments ● 4379d

Perivale 1932

Ive just come  across some amazing aerial shots of Perivale in 1932 when the Hoover building was being constructed. Incredible as apart from one or two buildings there was nothing else around for miles.Search google : perivale 1932 Click images

David P Archer ● 4380d5 Comments ● 4379d

Bad and good news and worries.

There was bad news during the build up to the Scottish Referendum. Leading up to voting day, the London Stock Market and property prices lost £Billions. On Friday, some of the losses suddenly were restored and now look to go even higher now that the vote is NO. But soaring London house prices mean more and more ordinary folk are being drawn into the possibility of heavier Inheritance Tax. - yhat's worrying news. Any opinions?

Gerry Tan ● 4381d18 Comments ● 4380d

Essential shops in Ealing ?

Some of us complain that we have too many betting and charity shops, estate agents and restaurants/cafes. We're missing some essential ones - which types of shops do we need?

Gerry Tan ● 4381d6 Comments ● 4381d

The Chef's Protege - anyone seen it?

Is this programme the most damning indictment of the UK's education system ever? My wife and I just started watching this programme, catching up on episodes from the last month or so. For anyone who hasn't seen it, Michel Roux Jr, Theo Randall and Tom Kitchin go back to the catering colleges where they trained, to try to find a young protege to mentor. What they find has me totally astounded: -A 3rd year student (3rd year at catering college!) who cannot make scrambled eggs without a microwave. She has a long think about it, but after coming up blank, has to be instructed as how to make them in a pan, with which she then fails abysmally. -A 3rd year student who didn't know that olives had stones in them-A 2nd year student who didn't know to add oil to a pan to fry something, tried to dry fry mushrooms. -A student (I forget which, but 2nd/3rd year) who'd had a risotto once, when her Mum made it. -None of them had made pasta before, including a 2nd year who claimed never to have encountered Italian food. Now at the age of 18/19, I certainly wouldn't have claimed to be the best or most knowledgeable chef, but if I'd sent (& paid for) my kids to go to catering college I'd expect them to know these things within the first day/week, which makes me wonder what the hell do they do there? What DO they learn about? Anyone been to one, who could enlighten me? Or is it just the path of least resistance to get some sort of qualifications? What makes it worse is that the candidates put forward for the show were the colleges' most promising students supposedly!!

Philip Slater ● 4387d10 Comments ● 4383d

Scottish votes begin.

Voting has just begun in Scotland. The final result is due tomorrow(Friday) morning. I hope its going to be 'NO'.  Vote well, vote often.

Gerry Tan ● 4384d11 Comments ● 4383d

Roofer Recommendation Needed

Hi all, I'm in Hanwell and need to replace the wooden gable end at the front of my house. Any and all recommendations for a good roofer in the area would be much appreciated.Thanks.

Stuart Hughes ● 4506d8 Comments ● 4383d

60 Young Volunteers in Ealing Looking to Help!

Hello!My name is Amy and I am representing NCS with the Challenge in Ealing. I currently have 60 young volunteers (aged 16-17) looking for a project that would help benefit the local community. The group would come with 7-10 staff that already know them, fully DBS cleared and trained, and up to £250 to go towards equipment etc for the day. We have worked with lots of great charities across Ealing and are very experienced with these projects so we can help to plan them with you. I'm looking specifically for Sunday 28th September and the only real limitation is that is has to be in Ealing. Could you help? Do you know of an organisation that could help?If you would like to find out more you can visit www.the-challenge.org or e-mail me amy.szott@the-challenge.orgI'd be happy to answer any questions, even if you just fancy finding out more about the work we do!I look forward to hearing from you!Warm wishes, Amy @ NCS With The Challenge

Amy Szott ● 4385d9 Comments ● 4383d

Silom Village

An FYI about Silom Village - despite the notice on the door stating they are closed due to refurbishing the kitchen, it is in fact for a cockroach infestation amongst other things. A friend of mine had quite severe food poisoning as a result of eating there. He reported it and the Council inspected it immediately and found a very poor standard of hygiene. It's a real shame in my book as I've had many enjoyable meals there.. not sure I'll go back now though.

Luke Stoughton ● 4393d11 Comments ● 4383d

Where for an October holiday break?

Are there any recommendations for a really good location for a late autumn break, comfortable beds essential, good food and wine a "must" and warm and appreciative welcome desirable. Doesn't need to be coastal - in the UK please?

Gerry Tan ● 4383d2 Comments ● 4383d

Dear Reluctant Runner

I witnessed you last week running around Blondin Park and was pretty impressed with what I saw, you made me feel tired.  Good luck with it all.

Linda Massey ● 4391d2 Comments ● 4383d

Reuseable on-the-go coffee cups

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jul/04/five-of-the-best-reusable-coffee-cupsIs it just me or does anyone else end up covered in coffee?

Philippa Bond ● 4385d3 Comments ● 4383d

{press release} new protest group over draconioan Ealing Policy

Press Release distributed to various media outlets this week:- Local man refuses to have his kerb dropped until Ealing Council reviews their draconian policy on dropped kerbsMany people feel restrictions set by the Ealing Council on Driveway Crossover / Dropped Kerb is completely ridiculous.  Now they have set up a pressure group and are lobbying for change.Sometimes laws and regulations are hardly well thought out at all and seem to be created by politicians who are completely divorced from the real world.  According to a new pressure group recently launched in Ealing, that's exactly the case with the Ealing driveway crossover / dropped kerb restriction.  They've decided to take it to social media and the press and demand the restrictions are modified to something more sensible.1 man in particular Mohamed Alwakeel (the spokesperson for the new group) refuses to implement a dropped curb on his property for his driveway until such time as this draconian policy is reviewed through Public Consultation, rather than the closed committees that usually decide on this policy. Mohamed has good ground to believe that his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights under article article 8 have been infringed by the pointless Council Policy. Beurocrats will tell you the policy is related to pedestrian safety as well as the look of the street, yet ask any member of the public and they will tell you they have never heard of anyone being hurt due to the pavement being dropped.  Mohamed strongly believes this policy should be dictated by public consulatation not meetings behind closed doors. Mohamed's next door neighbour has a dropped curb over 5 metres, yet no one has ever complained about it, or been hurt by it. Currently the maximum allocation for a single dropped kerb is 2.4m and 1 per household, irrespective of other factors.  The pressure group would like to see this changed to the 4.8 metres which is what the council would seize on the public road in order for allocation of 1 parking bay, be it for parking permit or disability etc.  Anything less is quite ridiculous. There should not be 1 rule for the council paying public and 1 rule for council beurocrats who wish to seize land on the public road.  Brent, a neighboring council for example has a maximum allocation of 4.8 for dropped curb and will even consider granting 2 dropped curbs if your home is wide enough, this is a much more reasonable policy. The group plans on continuing to voice their opinion until a change comes in effect.For more information or to join visit https://www.facebook.com/ealingcrossover.

mohamed alwakeel ● 4389d50 Comments ● 4383d

The Kingdom

If Scotland does go it's own way, we can hardly keep saying the UK  .Will we just be the K - the kingdom. ?

David P Archer ● 4385d7 Comments ● 4384d

e-petition to Ealing Council to take tougher action against public drinking and associated litter

Please could you sign and circulate to your family and friends this e-petition to Ealing Council to take tougher action against public drinking and associated littering and anti social behaviour in Greenford and Perivale.  To sign the petition please follow this link: http://ealing.cmis.uk.com/ealing/ePetitions/tabid/96/ID/9/Consumption-of-alcohol-in-public-and-associated-littering-in-Greenford-and-Perivale.aspx The petition is open to be signed until 22nd September and states as follows: 'We the undersigned ask Ealing Council to actively campaign against public consumption of alcohol in Greenford and Perivale, to recognise the chronic increase in litter that public drinking is creating in the area from discarded beer cans, bottles, cigarette packets, plastic bags used to carry the drinking vessels and associated waste and the eyesore, public health hazard, including increased incidence of rats, and danger to wildlife that this litter creates in our streets, car parks, parks other public open spaces and private gardens. We ask the Council to recognise the unacceptable impact public drinking and associated antisocial behaviour from drunkenness is having on the lives of residents, including urinating and littering on private property and unwanted sexual advances to vulnerable residents. We ask the Council to act on these issues by: - launching a campaign with Council officers, Councillors and residents meeting public drinkers together with police officers, to increase the number and size of no street drinking signage;- creating an office in the Council specifically dedicated to cracking down on public drinking and enforcing the Controlled Drinking Zone; - increasing the numbers of litter bins in litter hotspots- sending letters to all households in the area informing residents that the Council is cracking down on public drinking;- working with the local police to ensure more is done to enforce the Controlled Drinking Zone and to reduce public drinking.'

Graham Weeks ● 4409d22 Comments ● 4385d