Forum Topics

Mother of Seven will appear at magistrates court on Thursday

Good !

Andy Wright ● 5723d29 Comments ● 5719d

Shame on you, Council Leader Julian Bell

The only thing that I can think of as a response to your apology in the Ealing Gazette for the cuts is: "Shame on you"!The cuts in Ealing are being handled in a shameful way with no concept of fairness or proportionality in the way they are being implemented. Cavalier and partisan are the least impolite words that I can think of for the actions of a self-processed committed Christian who cuts Ealing's disabled centres and mental health support centres deeming them "not fit for purpose" and services while:a)Proceeding to spend £500,000 on a skateboard park.b) Continuing to plan to spend £500,000 on a dance studio in Ealing Town Hall.c) Proceeding to spend £5 million on restoring victorian folly structures in Gunnersbury Park.d) Planning and proceeding to spend tens of millions of pounds in building new facilities in two locations in Ealing for new council offices.e) Trying to cut the Taxi Cab scheme.Shame on you, sir. How much does it cost to build a couple of new day centres that we badly need that are "fit for purpose", not the £25 to £26 million that you are planning in the above actions. Are there other such hidden projects that we do not know about.How can you as a committed caring Christian axe these essential day centres and other services for the mentally ill and the disabled?I also ask why the cuts in Ealing Council are not proportionate all the way up to the top of the council? Of the top six executives there has not even been dicussion of removing one of these posts (that would easily pay for the staffing of a day centre with the disproportionate rates that care workers are paid compared with Ealing Council's top directors. For that matter, why have there been no cuts in the top thirty posts (by pay) in the Council? Is this fair?

Luther Brown ● 5720d2 Comments ● 5719d

Bulk Buying Scheme - Low Carbon Zone

Are you interested in reducing your fuel bills? Why not join a Bulk buying scheme to purchase solar panels at a discount and receive feed in tariff income tax free.At Ealing Green Drinks this week we listened to an excellent presentation by one of the founders of the Muswell Hill Sustainability Group who, with the help of the Local Council, set up the low carbon zone and a bulk buying scheme to assist residents to convert to renewable energy and reduce their carbon foot print. Many people turned up this week to listen and join in including the Ealing Cabinet member for the environment and transport. If you are interested in similar projects or can assist in any way why not get in touch with Ealing Transition or see their website details below, or let me know, you can also see the power point presentations at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ealinggreendrinks/ under "Folders". Ealing Transition Renewable EnergyAt the end of last year we ran a mini-conference on renewable energy. We are now in the process of exploring options for a community-based scheme. This might take the form of a buying group capable of negotiating discounts on the price of solar panels and electricity supply, or taking stakes in a larger generating facility. We will be organizing an event along these lines later this year. In the meantime, we’d love to hear from you if:You are already exploring renewable power for your home You’d like to invest in renewable power but do not have a suitable roof space You own or have access to a large public building with a south-facing roof You have experience in this area, or are interested in helping us to run the community scheme Do drop us a line at the usual address steering@ealingtransition.org.uk.

Conrad Bryan ● 5720d0 Comments ● 5720d

Ealing needs an Arts Centre

Sign the petition! (details below)Picking up on the "What is there to do in Ealing Centre?" thread, residents are also unhappy about the lack of arts and cultural facilities in the both central Ealing and the Borough. We have one small theatre, one Vue cinema in North Acton, one small exhibition venue (PM Gallery) and 4 dance studios.  Not much for a borough of over 330,000.Ealing residents have been trying for 2 years to get the Council to agree to us setting up an Arts Centre in the under-used Ealing town hall.  Despite our robust business plan, and their current town hall annual liability of £1.7m, councillors seem unconvinced...So we have just launched a petition to demonstrate that residents support the proposal for a relatively small one-off grant to enable  this badly needed facility to be set up in the town hall.  (Indeed, the £0.57m we require is currently ring-fenced for the arts)  Moreover, the Ealing 2010 Labour Party manifesto promised to explore the possibility of setting up a permanent arts centre in Ealing. Please sign the petition on www.gopetition.com/petition/39579.htmland send this message on to all your friends in Ealing.

Ann Pav ● 5827d31 Comments ● 5720d

An Arts Centre A Skateboard Park or Public Toilets, Disabled Centres and Help for the Ill?

Do we want an Arts Centre, a dance studio at the Town Hall, and a skateboard park or do we prefer to have public toilets we the humble residents of Ealing can use in the town hall, Disabled Centres and Help for the Ill?There appears to be several million floating around for refurbishing grade one listed polo pony stables in Gunnersbury Park, building a skateboard park, AND NOW IT APPEARS A DANCE STUDIO IN THE TOWN HALL. Why are front-line services like disabled centres being axed instead of these vanity schemes and jobs that go with implenting them in the Council rather than cutting services for those who NEED those services rather than want an arts centre with a dance studio?Our wonderful local politicians are indulging in their typical "men without adult supervision" approach to what is happening in Ealing. Rather then looking at the needs of the inhabitants of Ealing as budgets are cut they are fighting each other over irrelevancies like art centres!

Maggie Tomlinson ● 5720d1 Comments ● 5720d

Phone Line Dead - Roadworks to blame?

Last night I got home and my phone line is dead.I live in Westfield Road and Sydney road is being resurfaced..is there a connection?Is anyone elses phone line dead?

James Green ● 5735d10 Comments ● 5720d

Bravo Boris et al

Cllr Millican never mentioned that 500 jolly people at least attended a packed Transport meeting in Greenford last night. This was a good humoured and excellently organised meeting. Being age compromised I was particularly helped and impressed by the stenographers and their projected work, the very cheerful staff and the excellent sound system. This set new stardards for meetings in Ealing. Cllr M never mentioned the problems raised about crossing the Uxbridge Road at the Lido Junction and in Hanwell. When he was in charge nothing happened to improve either of these crossings. The other really important issue was the down-grading of the proposals to improve Ealing Broadway station raised by Tony Miller. We are lucky to have a competent Ealing officer batting for us in this area. Well done Nick. Escalators reduced to lifts. I looked hard to see if Ealing's Regeneration Team were there but didn't notice them. They want to carry on densifying Ealing without bothering about the transport infrastructure.

Arthur Breens ● 5729d3 Comments ● 5721d

Calling all publishers, literary agents and editors

Anyone out there able to offer a Post Grad Masters student a regular work placement in publishing? Studying at UCL and livng in Acton and current placement is in Didcot Parkway (Oxford) and commute on limited income becomimg a problem!! Would be great to get a placement in Central or West London.Interested in editorial roles, sales, marketing and advertising. Also interested in the role of a literary agent.Any help much appreciated.Thanks

Jean Heaphy ● 5723d1 Comments ● 5721d

Day centres to close

"Other cuts include the closure of the Albert Dane day centre and LINKS day service. People using these services will be assessed to see if they are eligible for an individual budget, which gives recipients choice to purchase care services that meet their needs."This above statement by the council people wanting to close the services are nonsense. The people currently being assessed being able to then purchase the services is stupid. The day centre will have closed so what can they purchase. Fore many carers these places provide relief and a friend from the Albert Dane centre said that only 3 of the people there on the day she was there are able to speak and so how can a consultation occur. There is a quote that the centre does not come up to modern standards, but this is an easy way of someone defining that a place has to close. Read the link http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&link=http://nnet-server.com/server/common/concouncilcuts001.htmand alsohttp://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2010/09/17/suicide-fears-if-links-day-centres-are-closed-64767-27289499/ It is strange how the first cuts are against the people unable to shout.

Peter Chadburn ● 5848d66 Comments ● 5722d

Looking for a childminder

We are looking for a registered childminder for our 3 year old son Monday to Fridays. Preferably close to Ealing Hospital or Hanwell.thanks

Steve Chilcott ● 5723d0 Comments ● 5723d

Selling Cot and Baby Rocker - Not on ebay though!

Hi there any suggestions on how I can sell the above items? They are in really excellent condition and I'm fed up with placing on ebay (have done this twice) and not sold the items.  I have also had to deal with ridiculous queries and bartering over price. I don't think what I am asking for is unreasonable either bearing in mind their condition.

Diane Gill ● 5725d2 Comments ● 5724d

Arts centre or disabled day centre without toilets at the Town Hall?

Have either the proponents of the day centre in the Town Hall or the arts centre in the Town Hall considered the impact that NOT having access to toilet facilities will cause? Will these facilities only be open to those wearing nappies or colostomy bags?What will happen during wedding ceremonies in the registry office and what will the Labour, Conservative, and LibDem groups do in meetings?

Luther Brown ● 5727d1 Comments ● 5724d

Council  Website upgrade 26 January

Enhancements will include better presentation of information, an improved search facility and events calendar, online registration and visitor polls.See main Council webpage for detail, and downtime on 26 Jan.

George Knox ● 5725d1 Comments ● 5724d

Town Hall Toilets

It just shows how ridiculous the Tories of Ealing Council are

Nick Earle ● 5729d17 Comments ● 5724d

Cleaner recommendations please

We are looking for someone recommended, who can do a few hours, one day a week. Please let us know if you're cleaner wants some more work, we are more than happy to fit in around any work they already do.

Nick Jenkins ● 5727d4 Comments ● 5725d

Bookkeeper

I started using my bookkeeper just over a year ago. I can recommend her to anyone who might be in need of a good bookkeeper. Even my fussy old accountant likes her... Her name is Lindie Bamford and her phone number is 07943 835 994.

Jacques Pienaar ● 5725d0 Comments ● 5725d

Cheap internet access

A large number of people still do not have internet access, so Martha Lane Fox is putting arrangements in place to get as many of them online as possible. This UK Government backed initiative is expected to include very low price phone, broadband, computer hardware, and help, for anyone currently without access.http://raceonline2012.orghttp://www.marthalanefox.comI gather that the plan is to supply a system based on the Ubuntu Linux distribution to users who may have never used a computer before. I have found that experienced computer users are very wary of even looking at a Linux distribution, yet it is considered suitable for completely inexperienced users.

Chris Bell ● 5726d0 Comments ● 5726d

Noisy Neighbours

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what I can do about noisy neighbours. I live on the top ploor of a converted house. During the week the neighbours are fairly quiet and if there is noise it tends to stop at a reasonable time, however when it gets to the weekend they tend to have music blaring out in the afternoon, so much so that I cannot hear anything above it.I've tried knocking on their door but of course they can't hear anyting as the music is so loud, so have left a polite message asking them to turn it down. I know that people are entitled to relax at the weekend, but surely respecting one's neighbours should come into consideration?

J Smith ● 5727d2 Comments ● 5726d

Watch out for scam artist

My lovely octogenarian neighbours were scammed out of 6k today by some scumbag who told them he'd been working on our roof and noticed in the process that they had some loose tiles. The wife is caring for her husband who has Alzheimer's.I would cheerfully castrate these people with my secateurs!Not much to go on. One bloke, white van with roof rack for ladders. Please don't be taken in.

Susan Kelly ● 5735d9 Comments ● 5727d

Use Town Hall accommodation for day centres rather than for arts centre!

If indeed the day centres that are closed are not fit for purpose as the Labour Group makes out they are then perhaps suitable accommodation could be found in the Town Hall proper. Rather than starting an arts centre in there we could use the space for day centres and other facilities for the disabled. This would be true regeneration as we would be regenerating the day centres that we clearly badly need rather than starting something new.Surely arty types of Ealing would not begrudge the disabled?Oh, and throw in the £500,000 earmarked for the skateboard and you could provide some very approriate facilities. Indeed, as some of our disabled are ex-servicemen it would be appropriate for heroes!Any takers?

Maggie Tomlinson ● 5738d5 Comments ● 5727d