Forum Topic

a response from the Council to "Everyone Active Acton Centre"

My own theory is that you are so out of breath after saying "Everyone Active Acton Centre" that you need to join the gym to recover. But here with permission is an excerpt from a Councillor's email on the title:"In reality and in everyday usage the new facility will be known as Acton Centre (Everyone Active is the sponsors' strapline – in small letters on the board). I don't think we could use the Town Hall name because it is no longer the Town Hall. We are one borough and our Town Hall is on Ealing Broadway.  Calling it Acton Centre places it geographically and metaphorically in the heart of our beloved Acton.In terms of the activities in the Centre as well as sports activities there will be arts, dance, music and drama, for practice and performance,  the library which you mention, office space and IT room, so an opportunity for everyone to be active and engaged whatever one's interests. Children's services will also be housed and there'll be an emphasis on education and development  as in 'Learner Suite' and 'Learner  Pool'. A great deal of work has been done to retain as many original features as possible, such as panelling and original lights which have been kept but refurbished. The rest of the building is new with the entrance from  Acton High Street. The façade of the Kings Rooms has been retained along with the listed features of Acton Town Hall building including the distinctive chimney.I do hope you'll come to the Open day and see what there is to offer."

Jonathan Rugman ● 4550d22 Comments

As a building surely it IS still Acton Town Hall - even if not used for those activities traditionally associated with town halls in local government. So rather specious really!

Sara Nathan ● 4550d

Ealing Town Hall is a mixed use building that includes a council chamber.  Most of the council's offices are now in Perceval House next door.  Acton Town Hall is another mixed use building.  The council advertises Southall Town Hall as ... South Town Hall:http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200316/venue_hire/184/other_venues_available_for_hire/6As I recall when the Conservative administration delivered Northolt Leisure Centre at the end of January 2010 we had already consulted residents on the name change from Northolt Swimarama.

Phil Taylor ● 4550d

In total agreement with previous post comment.  As far as public transport is concerned it is Acton Old Town Hall, as far as the public is concerned it is an arts and leisure centre in the broadest senses of the words.  Would it not be possible for the EAAC to be only a strap line and actually give the building a name that means something to everyone, not just the sponsers.  This is a public amenity that Acton residents have been involved in reshaping for over 10 years - why pull the rug away at the last moment!!

Christine Siobhsn Oktay ● 4549d

Especially as the 'Everyone Active' brand could be taken over by a different company in the future.

Vivienne Duggan ● 4549d

It will always be Acton Town Hall to me. Absolutely barmy.

Ana Strachan ● 4549d

Hammersmith Apollo is still Hammersmith Apollo even though it was also at one time Labatt's Hammersmith Apollo and is now Eventim Hammersmith Apollo.

Philippa Bond ● 4549d

"    Hammersmith Apollo is still Hammersmith Apollo even though it was also at one time Labatt's Hammersmith Apollo and is now Eventim Hammersmith Apollo.    "Not quite,  . . . .  I think you're referring to the Hammersmith Odeon   

Fred Bray ● 4548d

You're right of course, Fred.  According to Wikipedia it started as the Gaumont Palace and then became the Hammersmith Odeon in 1962.  It changed from Odeon to Apollo in 1990s presumably to distance it from the cinema group and there have been a lot of other names associated with it.  I'd completely forgotten about it being the Carling Apollo and HMV Apollo (that sounds like a ship).  I suppose it depends on during which part of your life you visit it or pass by it the most what you call it by!It's a short name and to locate it everyone uses the town location (except perhaps the sponsors and owners) so it works well.

Philippa Bond ● 4548d

I remember when you could actually go and see a film at the Hammersmith Odeon. Saw Annie Hall there and they put the reels on in the wrong order. Surreal!

Susan Kelly ● 4548d

I would suggest we call it Acton Old Town Hall (as many call it already) and hope it sticks. Some of those who will work there are intending to do just that.

Jonathan Rugman ● 4548d

That's certainly what I plan to do!

Ben Smith ● 4548d

and that doesn't stop the sponsor's name being attached outside or as an addition to all the paperwork and website does it?

Philippa Bond ● 4548d

Acton Old Town Hall is the name of the bus stop. Are they planning to change it, I wonder?

Chris Hurley ● 4548d

The council want the sponsor's money. I'm sure they don't really care what we all call it. Some Labour councillors are uneasy (election approaching etc). I have asked a councillor to provide this website with details of the open day (so we can go and see if the branding is awful or easily ignored).

Jonathan Rugman ● 4548d

There's an open day on the 12th to which members of the Town Hall Team (at least the name was good - even if our proposals were, in the end, wholly ignored!)have been invited.0945 but they say you need to be asked...

Sara Nathan ● 4548d

I like the name. In our household it will be the "Everyone Active Acton Centre" from here on in.

Richard Grange ● 4547d

aka eek

Philippa Bond ● 4546d

Yesterday I noticed a signpost newly erected near the Sheepwalk Tavern at the junction of Churchfield Rd and Market Place. Its many pointers indicate the way to various amenities and places of interest in the neighbourhood, including a certain "Acton Town Hall".

Vin Miles ● 4543d

Good to see a positive side to the council's poor internal communication for once.It will always be Acton Town Hall, just like Shoreditch Town Hall – which hasn't functioned as such for 50 years, but Hackney didn't go around selling off rights to the highest bidder to give it an impractically long and pretentious name.

Ben Smith ● 4542d

Couldn't agree more!  Long live the resistance!!

Christine Siobhsn Oktay ● 4542d

We've called it Acton Town Hall for countless decades and we'll continue to call it by the same name Acton Town Hall in the future.

Gerry Tan ● 4542d

At the end of the day the council can call it what they like but the locals will still call it Acton town hall, like Bromyard House will always be the government building, the job centre at the end of Third Ave will always be the old court house.

Diana Oneill ● 4541d