From attending various Ealing 2026 meetings, one of the clearest messages residents have been giving the Council is where is the infrastructure to support all the proposed new development and it needs to be in place before the proposed developments are allowed to go ahead.For the North Acton/Park Royal meeting this was the main theme, as infrastructure is currently at breaking point and not supporting the local community. A fairly large number of those who attended currently have to go to Brent for a doctor, this becomes an issue if they need aftercare, which is funded by Ealing. They then have all the assoicated problems over cross borough working; request by Brent Doctor for service which needs to be funded by Ealing and the ensuing delays. There are no local schools, dentists, community centre etc.,We have recently been advised by one of our Councillors that the local doctors surgey in North Acton (other side of A40), was given additional PCT funding for an additional doctor when the Fairview flats at Gypsy Corner were built 2007/8, this funding is now to be removed, so they will lose a doctor but still have to provide the same service!The A40 Western Avenue, Gypsy Corner and some of the surrounding areas are classed as Category D, not suitable for residential development due to the noise and air pollution. The only way developers can get round this is to have thick industrial cladding on the outside of their proposed developments and no windows or doors facing the Western Avenue, or go down the route of tower blocks. Surely as the noise and air pollution is Category D, both Ealing Council and TfL/GLA have a duty of care to all the current residents to improve the local environment and bring it up to an acceptable standard before adding additional development to the area?The council had no real details available on the night for the North Acton (Gypsy Corner/Southern Gateway) site, other than their proposal for 1,500 residential units with Commercial Office space. The current companies who occupy sites on the Southern Gateway and looking to develop were given as:1. NEC (submitted a previous planning application P2008 3774 for mixed-use redevelopment comprising offices (west end of site), retail/cafe uses, 1-2 residential buildings (between 20-26 storeys); 1-2 basement levels for car/motorcycles, bicycle storage and plant machinery. No decision is listed on Ealing Council's website for the outcome of this planning application2. Carphone Warehouse3. Talk Talk4. Empty site in front of current 3 Fairview Tower blocks at Gpysy Corner, recent planning application for 2 similar residential tower blocks to be built there was refused.5. The Perfume Factory (same architects Wallis, Gilbert and partners who did the Hoover Building)this is a locally listed building no mention was made of that on the night. However a different building in Acton was mentioned as being locally listed.When asked if the proposed developments would be tower blocks and for a guide as to proposed height, officers said that they did not have that information to hand.A new public realm is to be created at North Acton station, in reality this is just a cosmetic upgrade to the front of the station. Ealing Council are proposing to purchase the garage in front of the station entrance and open up the area into a plaza, primarily concrete, with some planting, benches and trees. There is no upgrade to the actual station itself, no improvement to the ticket office, lifts or the platforms. TfL have indefintely postponed plans for this station and have no funding.Much is being made of this as a much needed increase to open space, but its not proper open green recreational space where families and children can come and play, football etc., The Park Royal Industrial estate has being steadily growing, with an increasing move to transport related industries. There are a number of residential developlments within and along its borders dating back to the 1920's, it is these communities which are being forgotton, their roads are continually clogged up with HGV's and the pollution they emit.At Ealing's Cabinet meeting on 9th November their proposals for WLWP sites were discussed, 5 of the 6 sites are proposed for the Park Royal area:Existing Sites with potential for redevelopmentQuattro, Victoria Road, Park Royal - Transfer StationNew Sites with potential for developing Waste Management Facilities:1. Site 186 PK Ry 8, Coronation Road2. Site 187 PK Ry 9, Coronation Road3. Site 182 PK Ry 1, Victoria Road4. Site 191 PK Ry, Atlas Road5. Site 183 PK Ry 2, Chase Road (adjacent to North Acton Station down to Bashley Road inclusive)This does not include the Brent or H&F proposals on the borders e.g., Tywford Tip, Abbey Road, Park Royal. Or their desire to keep the aggregates at Horn Lane.The WLWP public consultation has been delayed and will not be discussed until January 2011 earliest. Residents were aware of the Cabinet meeting to discuss these sites at the night before this meeting and had asked for these sites to be discussed. This request was refused. Brent Council recently held their meeting to discuss their proposed sites, and did this as part of a Planning Committe meeting where local residents were able to attend and sit in the public gallery, if they wanted to.Whatever type of Waste Facilities are built on whichever sites, the bottom line is there will a significant increase in HGV's coming into those areas and the resulting nitrogen dioxide pollution they emit. Sorry for the long post.
Siobhan Martin ● 5789d