Forum Topic

The Green in Friary Road

Some months ago the Council spent a good deal of money making the green in Friary Road look good by planting flowers, shrubs, putting up a low fence, installing benches.  It looked lovely and was much sought after by residents.  Success, one might think!  However, some months later, the green is full of weeds and unkept.  What a wasteful Council we have.  Should be ashamed.When this project was proposed, many of us said there has to be a maintenance plan in place otherwise it would fall into disarray again.  "Told you so".  There is also a local gardener who lives very near the green who seems to use the green as a dumping space for left over earth and plants.  He has been reported.Hello?  Ealing Council, are you there?  We have a dump going on and you're neglectful.

Angela White ● 5175d33 Comments

Probably usual excuse, budget cuts! Or is it down to Enterprise to do the maintenance?

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

Not sure, Nicola.  Either way it's a waste our money, isn't it, if they don't intend to maintain it.

Angela White ● 5175d

Ask the council to buy some sheep and goats, that will keep the grass down.  The droppings are good for the tomato plants, once composted.  Of course, the council might expect the residents to go out with lawn mowers and weeding tools, then charge £40 for more wheelie bins.  It's time for the council to justify their actions.

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

Someone always used to cut the grass, though it wasn't possible to identify who was responsible for it.There's plenty of money in the Acton Central ward forum pot.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5175d

I shouldn't think Enterprise even know of its existence as they seem unable to find Essex Road half the time to litter pick.

Bob Crossley ● 5175d

If there is money in the Acton Central Ward pot, will we have to wait until the next forum meeting, to see if it can be used for maintenance?  Wonder if our councillors have considered spending the money on POTS for the green.

Nicola Howard ● 5175d

More garden waste dumped on this green.  Wonder who?

Angela White ● 5174d

Someone objecting to the £40 garden waste rip off charge!

Nicola Howard ● 5174d

I agree Angela.  I'm going down to the council to renew my parking permit this week as their online system is useless, so will see if I can talk to anyone about it.I was going to suggest to the council that if they're not going to maintain the "flower beds" they should plant wild flowers in the corners as they won't require maintenance and could create a nice look.  If they refuse, a gorilla gardening expedition might be in order!  I'll keep you posted.  They do mow the grass so they know it's there.  If I get no luck let's do a Fix my Street, they are usually quite good.

Sarah Harris ● 5173d

Just seen a white tip up lorry fly tip large amount of earth in Friary Road opposite alley.He kept his tip up down so unable to see number plate.Council informed.

John McNamara ● 5172d

Just passed it - I cannot believe it - what a mess!  Did he not have a number plate at the front for you to read?  The house nearest this dumped heap had a clear out last week (tenants moving out?).  The front garden is full of stuff and people wander in and sift through it making it even worse - it used to be the nicest house in Friary Road with a lovely striped lawn, now it's the worst.

Maria Pettit ● 5172d

It was only when he drove past I realized what he had done .My only view was of his rear and the tip up was still down.

John McNamara ● 5172d

Nicola - no, this started way before the £40 fee.....the dumping on the green happened before then and before the green was revamped.  Reported it a few times now.Sarah - thank you, yes, please keep me informed.  Happy to help where I can.Cannot believe a tipper lorry has done this.  Er, hang on a minute, yes, I can.  Not seen it yet but will look later.  The house mentioned, I totally agree - it was lovely then sold and has gone down hill since then.  The garden after the current tenants moved out is just a pile of rubbish.  The owners should be contacted by the Council surely?  I will report it but I don't know the number of the house.

Angela White ● 5172d

I first of all would like to express my appreciation for what the council has done to the park in Friary Road. Thank you Council. The heap of stuff which was dumped obviously by some fly tipper was cleaned up promptly by the council? (by a truck bearing the name 'Highway Maintenance')the next day, once again I say 'well done'. The stuff in the yard of the house nearby was obviously put there by the owners of the house when evicting the tenants amidst much gesticulating and crying. It was perfectly good stuff. Then two guys in a white van screeched to a stop and grabbed a couple of good kids cycles and some other stuff and drove off quickly.Then another passing van stopped and a man grabbed a few things and made off. Then passers by just helped themselves to things they needed and so on.It looked like the owners arrived yesterday and amidst tears salvaged what they could of their possessions. They are now tidying everything up.I don't know what the law says about taking stuff left in gardens but it was obviously not with the owner's consent.I hope they were insured.

Dave Hughes ● 5171d

Hi David.  Not sure I understand why the owners put this stuff in the garden if they didn't want it taken.....you can't leave anything out these days and I have to say it did look like someone was getting rid of it all.  What a mess.  Forgive me if I'm not understanding the story.  I certainly wouldn't leave anything like that in my garden, if it was wanted or unwanted goods, simply because I value my neighbours too much.The Council did a great job of the green.  What they haven't done, any fool can see, is maintain it.  This renders the great job a total waste of our money.  Not?

Angela White ● 5170d

It's happening again!  Infact, it's never stopped, but the quantities are getting larger and the fly-tipper more daring.We know who it is but the Council aren't prepared to do anything unless we catch him red-handed.  Also, the green has gone to ruin after all the money that was spent on replanting and relandscaping it.  I've complained.  Nothing done yet but I know one of our Councillors is on the case.

Angela White ● 5150d

AngelaIs there a specific day and time this happens?What type and colour is the vehicle that is used?E-mail meNikki

Nicola Howard ● 5150d

Have I got the right location?  What an eyesore at No 16.

Nicola Howard ● 5149d

Hi Nicola. You've got the right location re the dumping, which is always garden waste on the green.  Number 16 isn't anything to do with the green at all.  I believe they had some trouble there and to their credit they've cleaned up the garden big time.....it was full of household goods and furniture.  I don't know the story.  I think they're on to it and it looks a lot better.  I hope it continues of course.Thanks for the photo of the dump.  I shall take more when I see it there.

Angela White ● 5149d

I am afraid that work on it seems to have come to a dead stop.They trimmed the tree on the left and took all their trimmings and stuff with them but nothing further seems to be happening.

Dave Hughes ● 5149d

Angela - I emailed the Councillor who lives down the road a few days ago asking him to come down and take a look at the planting on the green but to date have not had a reply.  The weeds are far taller than any of the plants and it really is an eyesore - sadly the green has never looked so untidy.Nicola - your photographs are already out of date.  The dumped garden waste has been added to with yet more branches etc.  Also someone has thrown packaging around the grass.

Maria Pettit ● 5148d

And I only took the picture yesterday afternoon.

Nicola Howard ● 5148d

Maybe the shutter speed of your camera was too slow!

Dave Hughes ● 5147d

Ha bloody Ha said the sarcastic kookaburra.1/125 @ f5.6.  Next time should I do a Bolt?

Nicola Howard ● 5147d

Enterprise were there this morning along with a bloke on a lawnmower.  Let's see if they do anything aside from cut the grass.  Didn't have a chance to speak to them unfortunately.  Did they even pick up the cardboard?

Sarah Harris ● 5145d

I 'phoned the Council yesterday re the cardboard and the dumped garden waste AND the untidy weed-ridden planting.  There was somebody there this morning walking 'round taking notes.  They have removed the cardboard and some of the garden waste - the original mound of dumped grass is still there - and they have also cut the grass.  It's looking better but I will be on to them again if there is no improvement on the borders.

Maria Pettit ● 5145d

Hi Maria, thanks for doing that.  Did you mention the garden waste dumper?  I've done so several times so I hope it stops soon.

Angela White ● 5145d

There are a couple of gardeners tidying the Green today and it is looking so much better.  A letter from the Council has just been distributed to the neighbourhood advising of illegal dumping of green waste on the Green and the evidence they have obtained suggesting that a local resident is doing the dumping. Hopefully this letter together with the threat of a fixed penalty notice or court prosecution will be enough to stop the perpetrator chancing his luck again.

Maria Pettit ● 5144d

This is good news.  Thanks Maria.  Seems it's not only us who are complaining then.

Angela White ● 5143d

Hello Angela.  The last person I had email contact with (and the author of the letter) was Jamie Passmore, Ranger -Acton Central & East Acton Wards Leisure Services.  He asks us to direct any further queries etc. re Friary Road Green direct to him - telephone 020 8740 1855 or email  passmorej@ealing.gov.uk

Maria Pettit ● 5142d

Thanks Maria, that's very helpful.

Angela White ● 5142d

All went quiet on this matter for nearly 8 months or so.  Now the offender is at it again.  Piles of gardening waste dumped on the green in Friary Road, coincidentally (?) near a gardening business/van.  I've informed the Council again, who know who it is and are just waiting for that moment we catch him in action.  I have my camera ready to hand!  Please, if you're the offender and you're reading this - please don't poo on your own doorstep, if anywhere.  You bring us all down.

Angela White ● 4808d

I too have written to them and also about the weed covered flower beds - I really do not understand the point of spending money on the green (fencing, flower beds, plants) if there is no maintenance programme to keep it all tidy.  It looks horrible!

Maria Pettit ● 4808d