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Ealing Notes:
By J udy B reens & Will French
Walpole Park
Heller House, Southall Ealing Council says Government cuts mean its spending must reduce by £96m. Inevitably services in the Borough will suffer. Even so, it’s shocking that a Respite Centre for children with complex disability needs called Heller House is due to close. The centre, at 124 Norwood Road Southall, was bequeathed to Ealing way back and the Council has invested much in it since. For many the service is a lifeline. Hundreds of children have enjoyed the specialist facilities which allow parents a much-needed break. It’s claimed the care can be purchased outside the borough but parents are justifiably dubious. Of course, costs are high for the number of children involved, but who can imagine the heroic daily struggle for parents and carers of very disabled
Meanwhile the Council proudly exhibits Walpole Park, refurbished at a cost of £5.4m or so. Next, Pitshanger Manor gets a similar treatment. Yes, half of this comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund and yes, it is great these facilities are spruced up, but are they really our top priorities? Didn’t someone once say “A society is judged by the way it treats its weakest members”?
Haven Stables There is huge local opposition to plans to demolish the 137 year-old former Stables Building – formerly the Haven Pub at 1A Haven Green and to replace it with a block of flats. Only this summer the Council designated the Stables a locally listed building. National planning policies require that permission should be refused for the loss of such a heritage asset. There is a Petition to save the building. To sign E-mail name(s) & address (with postcode) to vmfree@madasafish.com.
Perceval House Redevelopment and moving Ealing Library
children? Costs would be far higher if parents gave up, leaving entire care to the State. Couldn’t parents or charities help keep the centre going? Has Ealing Council tried? In Spring 2013 NP reported on the loss of two day centres for people with learning disabilities (following other disability day centre closures). So will another service be lost? There is a Consultation – Contact details: Ealing Parent and Carer Forum: Matthew Jeatt 7740-461551 info@epcf.org.uk or Ealing Carers Centre: Jane Barnes 020 8840 1566
Still no progress to report in restoring a cinema to Ealing, but October’s Cabinet meeting announced a bolder plan in its desperate quest to ‘regenerate’ Ealing town centre. The Council now want to bulldoze Perceval House. Just 30 years old, the fortress-like building is fully occupied by Council staff delivering services to local people. But with service cuts and potential redundancies, the Council plans to downsize. And then, to help out the owners of Ealing Broadway shopping centre, Cabinet agreed in principle to relocate Ealing Central Library. The Library was only refurbished in 2008 at the cost of £4m and massive inconvenience for users. Easy come, easy go when library funds are concerned.
£10.00
Free NHS vaccine also available to ‘CARERS’ and to ‘AT RISK’ individuals** (ask our pharmacist for advice)
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Putting the People of Ealing First