Forum Topic

St Albans Church for sale?

In the Acton Green conservation area within common land, there's a planning application for 10 flats & a house due 07 September 11.  It's an unsuitable residential location with dangerous vehicle access.It’s an inappropriate development of community land as well as over-development of land on green space.The community space will be lost forever!Let’s stop the sale and establish a Community venue for: performances like concerts, dances and exhibitions arts, antiques and collectors' fairs and other events sports and youth groups, like scouts and guides young mums like the National Childbirth Trust start-up small businesses  a meeting room and cafe for all ages older people like Age UK and luncheon clubs.Sign the petition in the Bollo, Duke of Sussex, The Stag, The Swan & Tabard public houses.Keep up to date on www.chiswickw4.com and www.actonw3.com Please send your own personal objection to:         planning@ealing.gov.uk    P/2010/5108 by 07 September!           colinbastin@btinternet.com 

Colin Bastin ● 5494d6 Comments

Thank you for raising this proposed development to light to others.

Sarah Allan ● 5493d

I don't understand this objection. At the moment this "community centre" is rotting away and has been for years. I think it would make a lovely place to live and replacing those ugly portakabins with a proper nursery and a house is also a positive step. As long as it doesn't encroach on the common land then I cannot see the harm.  It will look much improved from what it is now.  Why is it "an unsuitable residential location"?The idea of a community space is very nice, but who would fund it?  To properly maintain a church building as big as St Alban's takes a vast amount of money. Is there a fund of millions already set up to convert and pay for the upkeep?  If not, how will it be funded and when will it be refurbished?If it was turned into a community venue of the type mentioned, imagine how many cars would be clogging up the area then. Would the local residents like hundreds of cars of an evening going to concerts (leaving late at night and making noise), lots of parents looking for parking for NCT, picking up their kids from scouts?  The application proposes 10 lowered parking spaces (inc 2 disabled) so it's hardly a massive ugly car park.  Those that live there and have their own parking space will soon get used to the junction. I reckon that if the developer loses this application the church will lay and rot for another 25 years because there is no way anyone but a large company will be willing to invest without a return.  Once the church has gone to ruin, it will be easier (and cheaper) for another developer to come along and tell the council it's a dangerous structure, knock it down completely and build new modern houses and flats.

Sarah Harris ● 5493d

Would the space be large enough for a much needed primary school rather than building living quarters to house yet more children without suitable schools to go to?

Ireen Esmann ● 5490d

The Bishop of Willesden & Deputy Bishop of London would be wise to consider a proposal for a school/community site to replace the decommissioned church of St Albans. The school in Acton Lane that was knocked down and  sold off to developers should never never of been taken away from the local community,this was one of Andrew Hunter-Dunn's legacy's he left for the poor after serving as the first vicar of All Saints South Acton, Acton Green then  was part of this Parish. Not forgetting Rothschilds school also in the immediate vicinity was sold off once again to developers.No more churches, no more parish halls,  no more schools...  no more jumble sales. So what is the function of the Church in today's society!

Ricardo Pelc-Wesoly ● 5490d

.... not a lot it would appear.But of course, as in other parts of London, the church could be turned into a Mosque.  Would that require a planning permission of just change of use?

Dee Cook ● 5490d

News this week* We have collected over 2,500 signatures on the petition to stop the planning application to convert St Albans church into 10 flats and build a house in the grounds.  Now the church has finished using the site within common land, it should be handed back to the community.  All the pubs around the conservation area and many shops, vets, hairdressers and chemists continue to run the petition.* Many more local residents have been given the opportunity to sign the petition as Ealing Council has delayed consideration of the planning application until at least the 28 September.  We continue to monitor closely the council website for the first sight of St Albans on the Planning Committee agenda.* The Gazebo on the Green on Saturdays between 10 and 4 continues to attract interest with people finding out more about the proposal and offering their expert help in the campaign.  Residents have expressed their horror at the prospect of a block of flats on their Green.* A Charitable Trust is being set up by the Committee to plan the conversion of the church into a community centre.  We recognise the offers of help and money now need to be formally recognised and the business plan developed.* We’re building a list of potential users of the centre.  If your charity or community group is interested in renting space in the new St Albans Community Centre, please contact colinbastin@btinternet.com * At a recent committee meeting of the Acton Green Residents Association, Councillor David Millican (Ealing Opposition Leader) said that officers were minded to allow more community use and social housing into the property* The church has been tidied up of late.  Loppers and council arborists have been round the church to remove the overflowing bushes obstructing progress on the pavements surrounding the site.  The unsightly graffiti’d signs inviting worshippers to join the congregation have been removed too.  The last time the church had a service was in December 2009.* Please join the campaign by sending your objection to planning@ealing.gov.uk quoting Ref. P/2010/5108 and coming along to the committee held every Sunday evening from 6.30 till 8 in the garden of the Duke of Sussex pub opposite the church.

Colin Bastin ● 5477d