At last, the "big guns" of Ealing are going public in their support for the Leaf development. I've just read with some relief, pleasure and encouragement the statements from the Board of the Ealing Broadway Business Improvement District(BID) Company.It seems the overwhelming majority of Ealing's businesses, comprising small, medium, large and national enterprises are in favour of the Glenkerrin proposals. Indeed, we in Ealing can't get any bigger guns than the likes of dear old Marks and Spencer to side with the proposed Ealing town centre plans. Here's what they say: "The BID Company encourages the Council to grant planning permission for this vital and exciting development and looks forward to working with the Council in pushing forward the renewal and enhancement of the town centre.""The BID Company will draw on its extensive knowledge of urban renewal around the country to ensure that the disruption to trade during the construction period will be reduced as much as possible for residents, shoppers and businesses."The M&S Ealing Manager added his support(and what seems like a little warning) by saying:"We recognise that this process of regeneration will take the best part of a decade to achieve," he said. "There is, however, no time to be lost as investors and retailers review their strategies and could decide to exit the Town Centre if conditions for successful trading are not met."Recently, we have encouraged our many friends, neighbours, a few relatives and sundry other folk, who have lived, worked schooled and played in Ealing for decades(someof us for 50 plus years!), to write to the Council Planners stating(in our own quiet way) our support in general for the Glemkerrin plans. It's heartening to see that the "big guns" are rallying round us now(albeit rather late in the day!) and that our feelings that the silent majority will have their say at last, against the relatively few noisy protesters with their strident rantings.The proposals aren't perfect, but they are encouraging and have promise – I do hope we're not going to delay and frustrate any regeneration of our beloved town centre any longer – we've watched it's decline over the last twenty plus years. We need action ASAP. Well, that's my opinion anyways. ;-)
Gerry Tan ● 6866d