Forum Topic

Is the closing of Acton Pool premature?

1) Is the rebuilding of the pool dependent on a commercial partner?2) Has the council signed with a commercial/private sector partner to assist with the financing of this development?3) Who is the commercial partner?4) Who will apply for planning permission LBE or the private sector partner?Have the plans been finalised?5) Who applies for planning permission LBE or the commercial partner?6) When will planning permission be submitted?7) I, with many others are concerned that the ‘wreckers’ will go in and the site will stand empty for a considerable time before any building work commences.  Can the council confirm that the rebuild will begin immediately after demolition?8) We have been told that Wilmott Dixon will prepare the site for demolition, how long will this take? 9) Will demolition follow on straight away? How long will the demolition take? LBE let down Acton residents when it gave the Bromyard Avenue Pool to Virgin Active, having promised local residents that as part of the agreement, they would get preferential rates when the pool was handed over, when Virgin reneged on this agreement LBE refused to confront Virgin.  This could have been because the legal agreement was properly drawn out, the agreement wasn’t there in the first place or LBE just couldn’t be bothered to look after their electorate. Following on from this debacle I really don’t have much faith in LBE.So could the lead officer and lead elected member for this development put their hands up so we can direct our questions to someone who can give us factual answers and not platitudes.Whilst accepting and understanding why the Pool needs to be replaced, it should be done with as little ‘down time’ as possible.  Not having a local pool is going to make swimming very difficult and for some people impossible, please LBE for once listen to your electorate and do not close the pool until you have firm date for the rebuild to commence and then work back from there.

Libby Kemp ● 5469d2 Comments

Libby, send your list of questions as a FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST to Ealing Council.  Ealing Council will be obliged to reply within 20 days.  See below for info.'Requests for informationAnyone can make a request for information but it must be in writing and include contact details.To make a request please complete the access to information form (word).  Forms should be sent to:•by post: Freedom of Information Officer, Ealing Council, Perceval House 5 NE, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 2HL•by email: foirequests@ealing.gov.ukDetails of requestAll requests for information should:•state the preferred form of access - whether you would prefer to receive a copy of the record on paper or electronically, and•provide a description of the records required (the request should be as specific as possible to enable the required information to be identified)You do not have to give a reason for making the request. If we require clairification about the request we will contact you.Processing of requests•the request will be date stamped on the day it is received•the request will be entered in the freedom of information log•the information and data compliance section will co-ordinate the search for and retrieval of all information that may be relevant to the request. All information will be released, unless an exemption applies.•you will be advised if a fee is required to obtain the informationYour request will be answered within 20 working days of receipt.  If we apply any exemptions we will explain our reasons.The Information Commissioner provides more information on exemptions.'

Dee Cook ● 5469d

Libby,There are details here:http://www2.ealing.gov.uk/services/regeneration/town_centre_and_area/acton/town_centre.htmlIncluding details of project co-ordinator.  Put your questions to them. If you don't get a proper reply ask your councillor to back you up.

Phil Taylor ● 5468d