Forum Topics

Gated Alleyways

I'm just wondering if anyone here can offer me any advice - I am asking on behalf of some elderly neighbours.On our road we have alleyways which lead to the back of our houses and give access to our garages.A man has moved in recently and had a lot of work done to his house, which is on the end of the row directly next to the alleyway.Without any warning at all, this man has erected a set of gates at least 8ft high across the alley, stopping any residents using the alleyway to get to the back of their houses.This man is now telling residents on each side of the alley that they must pay him every year for a copy of the key to enable them to access the alley and their garages.Is he allowed to do this? It seems ridiculous. The residents of the houses either side of him (4 to the left and 4 to the right) are mostly elderly and very intimidated by this man. One of the ladies who is more mobile than the rest but lives alone has been to the council about this, but they have said that there is nothing they can do. She has also spoken to the police who have said it is a civil matter and will not intervene. She has been told that she will have to instruct a solicitor, but none of them are able to afford this.Does anyone have any experience of this, or have any idea where we go from here?Many thanks for reading

Samantha Tubbritt ● 5378d16 Comments ● 5364d

Do anybody  know, What they are advertising

Do  anybody know what they are advertising? I took this photo at Ealing broadway yesterday

Diane Newman ● 5364d6 Comments ● 5364d

Garden share for keen gardener!

I have a medium sized garden in Hounslow which is going to waste and would love someone to make use of it! Can be used as an allotment

Farah Khan ● 5372d2 Comments ● 5365d

South Ealing Gas Leak Scandal

Cllr Millican posts warn us of yet more gas-leak-related work on the South Ealing Road soon. This is pretty much a sham by Transco who have over the past twenty years failed to cure the root of the problem as anyone who travels, lives, or works on the South Ealing Road between Saint Mary's Church and the Thames knows. The root cause of this is one of the oldest "grid" gas mains in the country a 24inch monster of a "medium pressure" gas main deeply buried and very old and crumbling. It used to connect the old gas works in Brentford to Ealing Broadway via South Ealing. It is falling apart and Transco does not want to replace it because of the projected cost. This is why you will see the same patches of road being dug up time and again and manhole covers lifted to vent the gas. The truth is that the work that is seen to be done is yellow plastic pipes leading to customers and the second shallower cast iron gas main (six to eith inches) and "low pressure" which is nearer the road surface. This is largely cosmetic and is more concerned with venting the ducts belonging to the telecoms phone companies. If enough concrete is poured in on top then the gas get diverted elsewhere.There is one point just south of the bus stop opposite South Ealing tube station where there is occasionally a smell of gas and which gets dug up every couple of years. The problem is this Victorian antique which needs to be replaces.I would expect continued regular disruption for the next few decades on the South Ealing road until the gas main collapses completely.Will.

William J Malmet ● 5371d6 Comments ● 5366d

Think Local Shop Local

We are blessed with some great local shopping areas, buzzing with life, with cafe's, restaurants, independent shops and businesses, libraries, and open spaces: areas such as Northfields Avenue, The Avenue and Pitshanger Lane in Ealing, Churchfield Road in Acton, Leeland Road Farmers Market in west Ealing, Acton Market, Bond Street in central Ealing, South Road and King Street in Southall, the Broadway in Hanwell, Greenford Broadway, to name just a few.However we all know how tough the times there have been recently and, if we are to believe the pundits, it will be a while before things improve.Meanwhile Ealing's Conservative Council has been working hard to support local businesses and traders in every town right across the Borough: Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale, Southall and west Ealing.We are spending many millions of pounds to support shops and traders improve their marketing, merchandising and shop fronts; improving the street environment with new pavements, more hanging baskets, removal of clutter; and generally tidying up our towns.  This all helps to make shopping locally a more pleasant experience, as we are all more likely to shop locally if the environment is pleasurable.As part of this support, Ealing Council is suspending all charges for off-street parking for every weekend in January.  This is a huge boost and has been welcomed by the business and traders' associations.To weather this storm every one of our independent traders needs all the support they can get.  Support from us all. Of course there is a need for the big multiples, but very often the local independent traders offer a great service.  So I would like to start a campaign to shop locally and use local services.   I would like to encourage us to think local, spend local. We all have experiences of how local independent shops, traders and businesses have provided magnificent service and great value for money.  Let's share those experiences, through EalingToday, and support our local neighbourhood shops and businesses.Councillor David MillicanRepresenting Northfield WardCabinet Member for Regeneration and TransportMembers Room, Ealing Town Hall

David Millican ● 6470d93 Comments ● 5366d

Recommend a builder?

My front garden wall is falling down and needs rebuilding urgently.   Does anyone know of a good builder they could recommend?

Suzy Nacrour ● 5371d2 Comments ● 5367d

Any ideas how to deter foxes (legally of course!)

Simon Wycombe ● 5372d12 Comments ● 5370d

volunteers

I train young people for Gas Work & Property maintenance after they have done the basic training or if they go to a day or evening courseI need person who may be able to help me to guide them for one day a weekAnd I am looking for a Book keeper on volunteering basisPlease reply or call me on 07956808024

Satpal Singh Hoonjan ● 5370d0 Comments ● 5370d

Supporting a Wonderful Group of Young Musicians

Hello EveryoneCould you please help me to support a wonderful group of young musicians I am sponsoring?A little over a year ago the five 15 & 16 year olds formed a band at their school, which they have called ‘In The Cards’.  In the short time since, In The Cards have gone on to play at some leading venues and have written some amazing new music.  They are now in a competition to win an opportunity to play with McFly on their forthcoming spring tour – and so could I ask you to please vote for them, as they need as many people as possible to support them.  Voting is very simple and is achieved by logging on to your Facebook account – and then clicking the ‘Like’ button on this link: http://supercity.mcfly.com/battleofthebands/view/237 Their video is also on this link and the tracks they have released so far are available to download free on their Facebook bandpage.They are a lovely and very talented group and a great story about young people and so deserving of everyone's support.So please check them out and vote if you can - and enjoy their music!Thank you and best wishesNeil Spratt

Neil Spratt ● 5370d0 Comments ● 5370d

Jack Russell Terrier Found

A very small Jack Russell Terrier bitch was found wandering on the Ealing Road, Brentford this morning by the refuse collectors. It is now at the Hounslow dog pound. All ownership enquiries to animalwarden@hounslow.gov.uk. Many thanks.

Tony Bull ● 5372d0 Comments ● 5372d

Waterman's cinema

Has a great range of films on in Jan, btw.Get on down!

Keith Iddon ● 5372d0 Comments ● 5372d

Recommendation - Builders

I'm going to be doing some work on my house this year that will include a kitchen extension and re-configuration of the downstairs space.  I have used Andy Beale before so he will be one of the choices for a quote but I would also be keen to hear of any other recommended builders.Thanks

Diane Gill ● 5373d1 Comments ● 5372d

CHRIS FOY FOR PRIME MINISTER!

Simon Wycombe ● 5451d22 Comments ● 5372d

Blue Oystercard wallet lost Mattock Lane this morning

This Tuesday morning, at about 9am, my blue Oystercard wallet went missing somewhere on Mattock Lane. I think it must have fallen out of my coat pocket near to the health centre towards West Ealing.It had my month travel card on it and a lifetime membership to the Prince Charles cinema, which was a gift from my wife.If anyone finds it, can they please email me at chris.hj.gilson@gmail.com?Thanks!

Chris Gilson ● 5373d0 Comments ● 5373d

On top of Horsenden Hill

Flowers, plastic and real in old milk containers around the trig point and a Christmas wreath fastened on top of it. Anyone know why?

Graham Weeks ● 5373d0 Comments ● 5373d

Found Cat: Perivale area

HiI've been adopted by a young male cat, who seems to think he lives at my house.he has a collar, but no ID and is friendly and seems very well looked after. He's not very good at climbing and I think he's just a little lost. I found him meowing loudly trying and failing to get down from my garage roof.Knocked on a few local doors today, but no joy, going to put some posters up on Monday and if still no luck take him to the local vet to see if he has a chip.So if you live in Perivale and have lost your cat, please contact me with a description and hopefully I will be able to trace his owner. In the meantime he's being well looked after.ThanksClaire

Claire Tavistock ● 5375d0 Comments ● 5375d

Anyone been to Tuk Cho yet?

I think that's the name of the new Asian 'street food' restaurant in EB that opened just before Xmas.

Diane Gill ● 5377d8 Comments ● 5375d

Local supplier of logs for wood burning stove?

I recently bought a log burning stove (smoke control area compliant of course) and am looking for a local wood supply. Does anyone on the forum know any reliable suppliers in Ealing?Someone told me that 80% of timber in London ends up in landfill so apparently there is plenty out there!

Andrew Benfield ● 5378d5 Comments ● 5377d

Christmas Day shopping

Call me old fashioned but was it really necessary to have at least 5 huge greengrocery stalls open on Christmas Day as well as late into the night on Christmas eve (Greenford) ? Whatever happened to the Sunday trading laws ? Surely these shops should not have been allowed to open on Christmas day. People shop for long enough in the run-Up to Christmas so they can have at least one shopping-free day in the year...

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5381d43 Comments ● 5377d

Recommended maternity wards

Hi there,My partner and I are expecting our first child in July, and are due to move into the area in January. Therefore, we need to book ourselves into a local maternity unit ASAP, but have no idea where to start in terms of choosing one.Clearly, Ealing hospital is the nearest, but we have heard mixed reviews of the care here.Can anyone offer any experiences of any good local maternity hospital units near Ealing?Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance.

Kristina Wilson-Brown ● 5383d8 Comments ● 5377d