Forum Topic

Urgent letter to Ealing Council from Chair of Central Acton Neighbourhood forum

Dear Mr.  Najserek, We hope we find you well in these difficult days. Like you, CANForum Acton is shocked and upset by the tragedy which unfolded at Grenfell Tower in a neighbouring Borough. Our prayers are for the dead and injured and the bereaved families.We write to ask Ealing Council to propose a delay on all planning applications for buildings of six stories and above until the Public enquiry on Grenfell publish their findings. We are aware that the Borough would not be able to defer such Planning Applications without permission from the Secretary of State. We ask that you request such permission immediatelyWe ask for the delay for several reasons.1    Current Building Regulations will be scrutinised by the enquiry and it is likely they will change for tall buildings at least if not for all multi occupancy buildings.  2   The Fire Service has given early indication that it will seek to change some 'self certification' elements of their own regulations.3   There are obviously flaws in RKBC emergency planning policy. While not seeking to cast blame anywhere, it would be prudent of Ealing Council to review its own policies as so many tall buildings have been granted Planning permission in the last five years. Student Accommodation in North Acton is an obvious example but the South Acton regeneration programme is a worry. We understand this review is already in progress and we commend the Borough on its prompt and sympathetic response to public alarm Alternatively, We ask that all Planning Consents for multi occupancy buildings are required to comply with any future changes to  Fire Safety Regulations arising out of the Grenfell Public Enquiry. This would have the benefit of allowing some Planning Consents to proceed, in the knowledge that all Fire Safety arrangements could be subject to scrutiny and review at a later date. We have consulted with some Planning experts and have been told that such a condition would be a good safeguard against future problems with multi occupancy buildings.As Planning Committee meets on Wednesday, we ask you to give our request your earliest consideration. I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Planning Committee. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Jan Gayle-FarlowChair CANForum ActonTony won't do anything.XShow quoted text

Maire Lowe ● 3235d11 Comments

We lived on a first floor many years ago and my mum was registered blind, If we hadn't had the balcony it would have been very clostraphobic as she was unable to take us out, it was nice living there but would have been better on ground level.  we weren't allowed out because she was unable to come and find us.

Janice Evans ● 3217d

Ealing Council are not the least bit troubled knowing that anybody with mobility issues living in these North Acton Grenfell style ghetto towers has almost no chance of survival in the event of fire. How does anyone 10, 20, 30, 40+ storeys up get out via a single blocked staircase? Especially if they're frail or wheelchair bound?

Ron Thorp ● 3218d

Sorry for the late response. Yes CANForum did have a reply from the Borough Planner. He declines to postpone planning applications for tall buildings until we are clearer on the issues which caused the Grenfell fire. We are still pressing for a condition which binds developers to install any additional fire prevention systems which might be rcommmended after the enquiry.  The Borough Planner currently doesn't see a need for this condition but he does agree to scrutinise all fire prevention arrangements with great care.See the front page for an article on CANForum. We'd be glad of your support.

Maire Lowe ● 3218d

Sometimes unwanted furniture and waste does not get as far as those refuse areas and ends up in lobbies and stairwells - and there needs to be good management of this.There is also the fact - yes it is a fact - that sometimes people have electric mobility scooters nowadays that they also need to also house safely.  In general we tend to have a lot more electrical and electronic gadgets nowadays.I've been told that Scottish and Welsh building regulations are clearer in their requirements and that the English ones are due to be updated.  Changes in gas regulations for flats several years ago meant that we took the opportunity (although we weren't required to) to update to a gas hob with an automatic cut-out rather than one without.  Sometimes its better to embrace change!

Philippa Bond ● 3220d

I'm surprised there have not been many more fires with overflow of refuge areas and hope there will always be adequate storage for waste in all blocks of flats in future.

Janice Evans ● 3221d

"ghetto towers" ????

Abdul Tailor ● 3222d

Any response from the council?

Chris Hurley ● 3223d

Ealing Council know full well the Fire Brigade have no way of dealing with a major fire on most of the floors of the grossly over density 30+ and 40+ storey Grenfell style ghetto towers they're imposing on North Acton. Safety, pollution, gridlocked traffic, over capacity Tube, lack of schools & community are of no concern to them. Their developer chums are happy though. 

Ron Thorp ● 3223d

That is a secret Sara. But more importantly, we wanted the Borough Planner to add a condition to all Planning Consents for high rise buildings in the Borough.that retrospectively, Developers would have to put any changes to Fire Regulations arising out of the Public Enquiry in place. That would mean that Developers might have to return to buildings they had sold to install additional fire precautions. Some disturbing anecdotes about new build homes of multi occupation are emerging, not just tall buildings. I'm no expert, but thankful that there are experts who are open to revisiting previous decisions.

Maire Lowe ● 3232d

Who is Tony and why won't he do anything?

Sara Nathan ● 3232d

Excellent points and concerns from the Chair of CanForum.  I think any Council would want to gain the Public's trust in these worrying times, especially given the history of residents' complaints and concerns which seemingly fell on deaf ears with the RBKC Council.

Angela White ● 3235d