My friends and I call them the Ealing Terrorist Brigade – as nobody else is allowed to have a different opinion from them. They mounted a vitriolic campaign against the tram and succeeded in not only having the plans dropped, but in so alienating all the movers and shakers in the local council they appear to have lost their taste for further discussion of transport issues, hence the lack of transport cohesion with the Leaf scheme. Many of us did not think the tram the right transport for Ealing, but there was room for discussion of alternatives which might have been implemented had the “terrorists” not wrecked the discussions with their aggressive ranting. The result is that we still have rat runs in residential streets and traffic jams in main roads. They are doing the same with the “Leaf” plans, so instead of getting some good concessions included which will improve the area for all, we may end up with nothing at all for the foreseeable future. A missed opportunity. In a straw poll amongst friends and neighbours, the majority were in favour of the “Leaf” but as they personally know some of the “terrorists” they said they would not dare to voice their opinions in public, as the zealots scare the pants off them and they like a quiet life. I think they just like being large noisy fish in a very small pond.
S. D. Brock ● 6889d