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I went along yesterday and had a long and interesting conversation with one of the organisers. They seem to be on v.5 of the plan for the Town Hall site which looks reasonable, although I can't see who would want to live in flats overlooking that busy junction, and the residential element is being maximized for financial reasons. There is no parking provision at all. I asked about local surveys of the impact on schools, doctors, etc. but he didn't know.There are 2 pools, though the smaller one looks very small indeed - I hope it will be adequate for the current use by local schools. Apparently there is a chance that they may be able to increase its size. They hope to provide a roof to the main pool which will allow the natural light enjoyed at present.The gym facilities look fine: very much larger than the current set-up and with changing rooms, a great luxury! I know there are many local groups using the Priory Centre - I hope the space allowed for 'community use' will be adequate for them. (The possibility of the Priory Centre being used as a primary school is still being considered.)The library space allocated seems to be smaller than that available in the current library building; there are vague plans for subdividing to allow for the current IT and study areas now upstairs in the reference section. There is a strange room on the first floor in the south-west corner of the Town Hall that English Heritage wants preserved, but will have to have its own entrance at street level and won't connect with anything else upstairs (surrounded by residential units) and I got the impression that they hoped EH could be persuaded to an alternative arrangement...They have apparently had an environmental impact survey carried out on the proposals, but they didn't know about the sparrows that live in the virginia creeper on the east face during the summer - one of the few places in Acton where you can still hear them. He made a note!All in all, it looks reasonable, but a great deal remains rather vague and 'to be decided'... Whether I will be mobile enough to enjoy the new gym facilities in 2014 remains to be seen!PS I've never been into the main hall at the Priory Centre before - a lovely space. Hope it can be preserved.

Lorna Dodd ● 5672d