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FREEDOM PASS - PETITION TO KEEP IT - FOR SIGNING AND PASSING TO OTHERS

There appears to be a real and sudden new danger to the Freedom Pass in London.  Downing Street needs to be sent as many signatures as possible on this petition. For those not so old, you might consider  that your time will come!Open the link at the bottom to sign the petition to keep the freedom pass, and send this on to anyone you can think of The three-year funding deal for the Freedom Pass agreed between Government and London's Councils in 2008 has been re-opened by theDepartment for Transport which is seeking ways to cut costs. As a result, London is set to lose £29m (half its agreed funding for  2010-11). Leaders of London's Boroughs are opposed to this re-opening of the  previously agreed three-year funding deal, and have said that, although they will endeavour to protect the Freedom Pass, the money will have to  be found SOMEWHERE. THERE IS CONCERN THE AXE MAY FALL ON THE FREEDOM  PASS, OR AT LEAST SOME ASPECTS OF IT. A Petition has been organised to demand that the Prime Minister  intervene to protect the Freedom Pass's funding, and every London resident who might be affected is urged to sign it. It has been  submitted by Barry Macleod-Cullinane of London Councils, and the wording on 10 Downing Street website reads- We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to intervene to secure  the Freedom Pass by protecting the previously agreed level of concessionary travel funding for London, for 2010-11, from the proposals  currently being consulted on by the DfT that would cut £29m of agreed funding for the boroughs, following the DfT's re-opening of a 30year funding deal in its third year. The deadline for signing this Petition is January 29, 2010 and,  currently over 6,000 signatures have been attached, but this is unlikely to be enough so if you feel inclined, DO join by using this  link:   http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/29m4freedompass/

Libby Kemp ● 6090d19 Comments ● 6065d

Hanwell Carnival 2010 - Golden Jubulee Year!

Hanwell Carnival 2010 - Golden Jubilee Year!Hanwell Carnival (Possibly the oldest carnival in London) is celebrating its 50th continuous year this on Saturday 19th June 2010. We at the Organising Committee would like to have a special parade of the past Carnival “Royalties”. Anyone who were either Carnival Queen & Princess in the past 50 years and would like to take part in the special parade, please contact Also local community groups, schools and individuals can be part of this celebration event by involving in the following areas:• Arts & Craft Show• Beer Tent• Carnival Programme Design Competition• Carnival Queen & Princess• Community & Charitable Stalls• Dog Show• Food Village• Golden Jubilee Royalties Parade• Main (family Arena (Music, dance, performing etc.)• Music Stage• Procession (Theme- Golden Hanwell)With special permission from Ealing Council, the carnival will open from 12 noon to 9pm.We are looking for all kinds of sponsorship and advertising, as wer will be producing a Special Golden Jubilee Edition Programme this year. Please contact Gill Bond.For more information please contact:• Carnival Queen & Princess - Belinda Newstead thegardenerscooperative@hotmail.com• Community & Charity Stalls - Colin Wyncoll 020-8840-3611• Dog Show - Dave Wallis 020-8998-2203• Food Village - Tim Williams (via Colin Wyncoll)• Others & General Enquire - Colin Wyncoll 020-8840-3611• Procession - Jim Wong (jim_wong@hotmail.com)• Sponsorship / Advertising - Gill Bond  gbond1@sky.com

Jim Wong ● 6100d8 Comments ● 6066d

Angie Bray, time to kick Boris into action

That's it. After listening to Boris for the umpteenth time and seeing that his breath of fresh air Mayoralty is becoming little more than hot air, it really is time for his talismen to kick him and get serious about sorting some of the things that need to be addressed as per his rhetoric of his Mayoral campaign.On top of that I read an emaill from Angie Bray which addresses the problems of Ealing's transport.It is all long term wish list stuff.What is needed is action on just why so much of the local infrastructure is failing when it need not.Boris, Angie and co. need to start banging heads together at the main culprit -TfL.Why for example, has TfL been ineffectual at coordinating the road works that has plagued the 65 route between Ealing and Kingston for over 16 months? One act by a Hounslow council officer managed to make a 15 min saving in South Ealing Road. But it takes months for Ealing, Richmond and TfL to even discuss problem solving let alone act on it.The lack communication and ability to deal swiftly with problems would shame a third world country. It is all hot air and spin and no action. A mirror to...er.. The Mayor?Today it has taken nearly 2 hours on a 65 from Richmond to South Ealing. I got off and walked from the Richmond End of Kew complete with a 17kg bag and passed 7 buses!This is not the first time of late and is purely down to poor co-ordination of road works and traffic lights.Ironically, there were 4 police representatives on some of those buses. doing nothing. None of whom are able to direct traffic.Sitting for 40 mins on a brand new 65 really does drive home how uncomfortable the seats are, If not a gropers paradise from the huge gaps, the cushioning is non existent.again TfL passed this design.I was told personally by Boris that comfort, quality and restoring a superior degree of pride and exuding quality would be paramount in his transport policy.Try telling my sore posterior that Boris!

Michael Brandt ● 6067d2 Comments ● 6066d

Ealing Hospital closure petition

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ensure Ealing Hospital in Southall keeps it's A & E unit and other acute services (Maternity, Childrens) which are all under threat. More details"Submitted by Dr Jenny Vaughan – Deadline to sign up by: 15 May 2010"Get signing folks:  http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveEalingsAandE/The petition originator also advises:-"You will have heard that various documents have been leaked to the BBC written by NHS for London and Healthcare for London, and that these show there have been plans devised secretly to reorganise healthcare services in London in a radical way. To summarise these plans it appears that there will be a restructuring of services with many polyclinics built and run by GP’s and that there will be many closures of hospitals and their departments all around London. Much of the work done by hospitals is planned to be centralised in a few hospitals only. The motive behind this is to reduce costs and not to improve the quality of care. These plans may affect Ealing Hospital unless we act now to counter these. Patients do not want to travel or be transferred long distances to hospitals miles away when they are ill, and nor do their visitors. Transferring patients like this is not good care."We have started a campaign to preserve local services for our patients and population living around us. This involves leaflets, posters, media coverage, involvement of our local MP’s, and a press release will be issued this week."Please would you consider using our Facebook (“SOS Ealing Hospital”) site as well as signing our e-petition?"Facebook linkhttp://www.facebook.com/n/?group.php&gid=342085015609&mid=1e369b6G1f85103cG41a809aG6

Chris Veasey ● 6066d0 Comments ● 6066d