Forum Topic

How long before Churchfield Road is seen as a destination?

I know how people love to label every street corner in London as a 'Village" these days, but I've just spent a very happy hour wandering along Churchfield Road in the sunshine picking up everything I need for the weekend. Flowers from Heart and Soul, meat from English Butchers, salad and spices from Angela Malik, wine and cheese from Park And Bridge and bread from Lavellis. And all this after a great lunch at the Station House. I'm starting to wish I lived here rather than just visited at weekends. It really is a hidden gem.

David Fawcett ● 4736d22 Comments

Don't forget the manicure, leg waxing, facial, shampoo and set with high-lights, and eyebrow threading.

Fred Bray ● 4736d

And the new Waitrose...on the other hand the proposal for a nine-storey building and a gated community right on Churchfield Road will pretty much undermine any village-like pretensions.So we need to oppose it at the site visit on October 12th and planning meeting October 16th

Sara Nathan ● 4736d

Absolutely! Its clearly nothing more than a money grabbing exercise. I'm reminded of a development in south america that was similar. Promises were made and not kept. Six months later the key developers were kneecapped outside their homes. One had the word LIAR carved on his forehead. All of the protesters had cast iron alibis. No one WS ever charged.

David Fawcett ● 4736d

Many thanks for including us in your verykind words David. We really appreciate all the support we've had locally since we opened in April. And just for the record, Paola and I also buy our meat from Tim, supplies from Angela, bread from Laveli and flowers from Sue at Heart and Soul. Not because we have to, but because they are all really great local shops and we can. And I can't leave out Toni at Arthur Razor. TOP haircuts and a totally great experience.

Mike Taylor ● 4736d

Smart PR move by the developer. Dilemma for the nimbys. Oppose the scale of the residential element in the proposed development and the developer will walk if the numbers won't add up. No tall block = no Waitrose. And the Oaks will remain as an ugly blight on the town centre for years to come. There's no other credible proposal on the table.

Peter Millman ● 4735d

I disagree.Frankly - the promise of a Waitrose doesn't make me want to suddenly be cast into darkness by a tower block. I actually think Acton is pretty well served by supermarkets as it is - especially when you throw in online delivery.Moreover that land is so valuable that it is a question of when, not if it gets developed. It just needs to be done sensitively - which means not parking a massive nine-story high space ship in the middle of Acton.

Richard Grange ● 4735d

And Waitrose/John Lewis is likely to want to be on good terms with its potential customers.In a way its easier to deal with public-facing retailers than anonymous developers.So, if you care, you could tweet @waitrose and @johnlewisOne message that fits is:@waitrose welcome back to Acton. Please not at the price of a 9-storey tower on Churchfield Road nor a gated community. Where's the CSR? RT! (139 characters)Other suggestions???They both have facebook pages on which you can post.They both have Community Social Responsibility commitments and PR/community relations people.It's just that it's all quite hard work. I managed to @savegabysdeli and still have over a thousand twitter followers on that. But it took three months of my life, articles in every national newspaper, items on ITN London and all London's radio stations, write-in campaign to the Marquess of Salisbury...lobbying Boris and Ken and co in Mayoral election year...pop-up entertainment by Henry Goodman, Simon Callow and the like... letters to the Telegraph signed by well-known actors etc. Exhausting and we don't have that sort of marketable story in Acton.Plus I just can't gear myself up to do all that again. But happy to advise if anyone else wants to.

Sara Nathan ● 4735d

I agree Peter... and so do lots of our neighbours. And whatever people say, people will shop at Waitress however against the proposals they are.

Mark Bird ● 4735d

oops - Waitrose not Waitress

Mark Bird ● 4735d

If Waitrose think the site/location/demographic is right, they will work with any developer... and could I suspect be encouraged to put pressure on this one.

Sara Nathan ● 4735d

That's exactly the point.What loyalty does Waitrose owe the developer?None.Basically if  Waitrose wants to move to Acton - I cant believe it is conditional on some developer getting a nine storey building through.Especially if it means getting tangled up in a brutal local fight about a building project that will trash the surrounding environment.I think it is more likely that the developer - who will desperately want the guarantee of Waitrose investment - beginning to panic and trying to lean on Waitrose to help out a bit.

Richard Grange ● 4735d

...which is why I am urging a twitter campaign - businesses feel that pressure and respond quite quickly, in my experience.@waitrose #theoaksplease do it and add "plse RT" at the end. It can work but takes local participation.And the facebook pages

Sara Nathan ● 4735d

Will do.This is a bluff.Interestingly - if you read the article and not the headline - it says nothing about the arrival of Waitrose being 'conditional' on a nine-storey building being built.Why would Waitrose want it's "return home" blighted by headlines about an unseemly row with Acton residents?Lobby for what you want to be built!And that could be a low-rise modern development in keeping with the skyline - and still with room for a Waitrose if that's what people really want.

Richard Grange ● 4735d

Of course it doesn't say it's conditional on the tower OR the gated community - because it can't be.If we can get the planning committee to reject this, in fact the developer will be under huge pressure to get something acceptable passed in order to keep Waitrose on side.so tweet @waitrose chaps, or post on the facebook page or send an email - I have researched a list of contacts if anyone would like them - just DM me.

Sara Nathan ● 4735d

There is nothing on the Waitrose web site to say they will be opening up a branch in Acton.This must be a bluff.  A pity.

Dee Cook ● 4734d

Have sent tweets x 2, Sara – good suggestion. It's @johnlewisretail by the way...

Jake Woodward ● 4734d

I know - poor Mr John Lewis in the States is terribly sweet about it - and writes the funniest replies. It must be a pain for him. Apparently JLP haven't even offered to buy out his twitter account.I grovelled and thought I had put a note on all my assorted postings - I did all the facebook ones - but obviously forgot here.Anyhow, get to it guys - Waitrose won't do anything if its not seen as a problem.

Sara Nathan ● 4734d

Waitrose have been talking about opening a store in Acton for several years. No doubt they've seen recent demographic changes and are now even more interested. If the current planning application is refused, they'll wait for the next one.

Vlod Barchuk ● 4734d

Waitrose should buy the library building once the Council vacate it for the new development.

Tony Crumpton ● 4734d

I doubt the library is big enough for the Waitrose plans... a local at best and I think the Oaks scheme is for something pretty mega.But Vlod's right - as ever - if the company has decided Acton is a good prospect then they will find a way if this doesn't go through planning, either with this developer or another.

Sara Nathan ● 4733d

The demographics of Acton are changing and a Waitrose either a little or main stream one will add to the upwards change . I for one might even be tempted to change my mind and re visit the high street

Peter Truesdale ● 4732d

If the developers get their way, it not only won't be in the High Street, but access from there will remain rather restricted - wholly against the Ealing Council spec for the site. (which officers seem to have conveniently forgotten about)

Sara Nathan ● 4732d