Forum Topics

Dr Onkar Sahota's application in Haven Green rejected

Neighbours are celebrating after a building application for a 128 year old house in Ealing's Haven Green Conservation area was thrown out at committee last night (Wednesday 13th March)The substantial property on Castlebar Road - bordering Longfield Walk was bought in 2011 for £1.4million by Ealing and Hillingdon GLA representative Dr Onkar Sahota.He wanted to add a basement, extend the house both sideways and to the rear and add a glass roof.Over a hundred people objected to the plans, claiming the proposals were highly detrimental to the area.Last night - despite the application being recommended for approval by Ealing Council planners - a committee of Councillors rejected it.10 voted against the proposed development, none for and there were three abstentions. Councillors were particularly unhappy with the glass roof extension which they described as looking like a glass 'roof box'.Liberal Democrat Councillor, Nigel Bakhai, voted against the application. He said: '' The plans were out of character with the Haven Green Conservation Area and I could not support officer's recommendation to approve.'' Victor Mishiku, who has been heading the local campaign says he used his 27 years' experience of planning issues to help local residents.He is appalled by the whole procedure, claiming planners 'ruthlessly' tried to push through this application and adds: '' Is Ealing Council Planning Department "fit for purpose"?  The 43 Castlebar Road case attracted comments from the Committee that the report was poorly written, absurd, in defiance of reality, insulting (to the intelligence) and part of the proposal was described as "disgraceful" and resulting in the glass box roof extension making the top roof part of the development being "lit up like a Xmas Tree''.Next door neighbour Judy Jaafar says: '' I and others will be writing formal letters of complaint to the LBE chief executive about how badly this whole application was handled by the Planning Department, about procedural irregularities and about how the planners were quite happy to break almost all their own planning guidelines in an effort to push this through. Fortunately the councillors saw through all the nonsense, "lies" in the words of one councillor, and we saw informed local democracy in action.'' xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI am sure you have all read this but what I find interesting is Doctor's sure do earn a lot of money maybe that's why the NHS is in crisis.Secondly, Isn't it strange that Planning control were happy with his plans. I hope it wasn't an inside job or that innapropriate payment was made to any officer. I hope they conduct a full investigation into this state of affairs because something smells fishy. Where there is money, there is corruption.

Anna Lang ● 4937d194 Comments ● 4657d

MAYOR MUST ACT TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS

Published in 'Your Letters' Ealing Gazette Friday 13 December 2013For safety’s sake stay off pavementsIn response to London Assembly member Jenny Green’s call for Boris Johnson to act to protect cyclists on London’s roads [“Mayor must act to protect cyclists” letters Friday 6 December], will she also call on him to stop cyclists taking to the pedestrian pavements ‘for their own safety’. NO CYCLING signs on lamp posts would be a cheap and effective way to start (see below).However cyclists are viewed by other road users they are in law an anti-social and criminal menace when they ride on the pedestrian pavements. Under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 pedal cycles are defined as carriages, to be ridden only on the carriageways. Rule 64 of the Highway Code defines pavement cycling as a NO-NO!Following the recent deaths of cyclists in London the Metropolitan Police appear to be monitoring more closely the behaviour of cyclists on the roads, and the behaviour of other road users towards cyclists. They should at the same time crack down on any cyclists riding on the pavement, which is a criminal offence in itself no matter how the rider behaves while doing so.Certainly a default 20mph speed limit on the capital’s streets would make a significant contribution to cycling safety by reducing the speed differential between cyclists and other road traffic.Tony Purton Ealing Copied to: 'James.Ayling@met.police.uk'; Adrian.Hanstock@met.police.uk'; ODonnellN@ealing.gov.uk; bassam.mahfouz@ealing.gov.uk; 'andrew.gilligan@london.gov.uk'; 'onkar.sahota@london.gov.uk'; 'steve.pound.mp@parliament.uk'; 'angie.bray.mp@parliament.uk'Personal reply from Jenny Bond: "In response to your comments about cycling on pavements, it makes me very angry when cyclists break the law because it is dangerous, disrespectful to pedestrians and gives a bad name to those cyclists who don’t break the rules." See also previous postings: Page 6: PAVEMENT CYCLING; PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS; PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS – 2. Page 5: PAVEMENTS ARE FOR PEDESTRIANS – 3THE RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITIES TO CONTACT ARE:Ealing’s Community Police Team mailto: James.Ayling@met.police.uk Tel: 020 8246 9406 Met Police HQ: Commander Adrian Hanstock head of the Met Police Safer Transport Command mailto: Adrian.Hanstock@met.police.uk Tel: 020 3054 0293 London Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan [mailto: andrew.gilligan@london.gov.uk],  responsible for implementing London Mayor Boris Johnson’s ‘Vision for Cycling in London’ London Assembly: Ealing and Hillingdon member Dr Onkar Sahota mailto: onkar.sahota@london.gov.uk Tel: 020 7983 6558 Ealing Council: Assistant Director of Strategic Transport Nick O’Donnell mailto: ODonnellN@ealing.gov.uk Tel: 020 8825 8078 Ealing Council Cabinet: Member for Transport and Environment Councillor Bassam Mahfouz is mailto: Mahfouz@ealing.gov.uk Tel: 07949 104 656Ealing Ward Councillors:Councillor Isobel Grant     Isobel.grant@ealing.gov.uk                              Councillor John Popham   John.popham@ealing.gov.uk                             Councillor Greg Stafford   Gregory.stafford@ealing.gov.ukEaling Conservative Action TeamRosa Popham      rpopham@btinternet.com                              Ian Proud             ianproud@ip-associates.demon.co.uk

Tony Purton ● 4664d5 Comments ● 4657d

Widespread local opposition to the Lionel Road Scheme

Ealing residents may be aware that the London Borough of Hounslow last week approved a planning application by Lionel Road Developments Limited to build 910 high rise apartments, a 160 bedroom hotel and a 20,000 seat football stadium just over the South Ealing- Brentford border in a a triangular site bounded by Lionel Road, three railway lines and the West end of Chiswick High Road. This scheme is contrary to borough, GLA and national planning guidelines and policy, particularly as it contains no social or affordable housing and involves building tower blocks up to 17 storeys high within 5 metres of each other adjacent to the A4, the M4, Chiswick Road, the North Circular Road and Kew Bridge in an area where traffic congestion is already a major problem.The Council approved this aplication despite the serious objections made by over 1,000 residents of Chiswick W4, Brentford TW8, Richmond TW9 and others and despite the objections of local non-party political residents groups who represent many thousands of local people who live close to the proposed scheme. Members of these groups will have found it unnecessary to submit objections individually as they quite understandably felt they were represented by their local residents' group, society or association.The objectors included: 1. Brentford Community Council2. Chiswick High Road Action Group3. Strand on the Green Association4. Friends of Stile Hall Gardens5. The Kew Society6. The Kew Residents Association7. The Kew Bridge Owner's Association8. The Isleworth Society9. The West Chiswick and Gunnersbury Society10. The Thornton-Mayfield Residents Association11. The Temaire Place Residents Management Company 12. The Green Dragon Lane Housing Cooperative13. The Grove Park Group (whose objections were mysteriously omitted from the Officers' Report).14. The Isleworth SocietyImportant national and local organisations that objected included:15. The London Borough of Richmond on Thames16. English Heritage (whose objections will be a matter for consideration by the Secretary of State in accordance with Circular 02/09)17. The Georgian Group18. The Victorian Society19. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew20. Kew Bridge Engines Trust (The Steam Museum)21. The London Parks and Gardens TrustThe Greater London Authority commented critically on the Report but did not lodge an objection at this stage perhapsd because the planning application will now be referred to the Mayor in accordance with the Mayor of London Order 2008. The London Borough of Ealing made no objection even though Ealing residents nearby will be badly affected by the scheme - both during construction and afterwards.The application was supported by Stephen Pound, the MP for Ealing North (which is of course a safe distance away from Lionel Road,  Chiswick and Brentford).

David Giles ● 4666d13 Comments ● 4658d