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Ealing Notes Libraries All but one of the Ealing Public and Community Managed Libraries (CMLs) remain closed until 1 September 2020. Ealing Central Public Library (ECL) re-opened on 17 August 2020, in the sense that you can enter it. However you can’t browse the books, or use the computers. The Government’s Covid-19 response guidance allowed library reopening nationally as from 4 July 2020. ECL might only stay open for a couple of years as the Council wants it replaced by a new Public Library on the Perceval House site. Vistry and the Council plan to demolish Perceval House and build some 510 housing units on the site along with a new ECL. Wood End Public Library in Greenford is scheduled for demolition if Planning Permission for the Council’s planned 11 ‘genuinely affordable/ sustainable’ housing units on the site is granted. A new ‘Community Library’ is
Manor Road Tower Over 2,400 formal objections to the Manor Road tower block have been submitted to Ealing Council. This is almost certainly a record number. ‘Stop The Towers’ (STT) pulled out all the stops to ensure that the local community were aware of the new proposals. This is in spite of the fact that there was no community consultation for the design of the new 20 storey block with a roof garden on the 14th floor of the shoulder building. Objections expressed concern about these tower blocks being built on inappropriately small sites adjacent to Edwardian and Victorian two storey homes. Site specific guidance and impact on the community have also been ignored. STT planning experts identified many material breaches of planning policy and used these to shape submissions to the Planning Application 202231FUL. A well known QC helped frame 4
By Denise Colliver, Roger Green, Eric Leach and Louise Sinnock
promised on the site but it’s not clear how big it will be or who will run it. Five Community Managed Libraries (CMLs) are still just in embryonic form thanks largely to Covid-19: Hanwell: Ealing Law Centre - the CML operator – has still not moved into the first floor of the library building. Up to five volunteers will be entering the library as from 1 September 2020. Online services are up and running. Partial opening is likely during September 2020. New volunteers should contact: mbauer@hanwellcommunitylibrary. org.uk
Pitshanger: Local stakeholders are discussing a new Lease with Ealing Council West Ealing: Ealing Community and Voluntary Service (ECVS) – the CML operator – have still to re-locate to the back office of West Ealing Library. This is because Ealing Council has still not vacated the property. A volunteer Library Manager has been hired and ECVS is confident of some limited opening by the end of September 2020. More at: ealingcvs.org.uk Incredibly none of the CML contractors has been able to obtain a signed lease from Ealing Council.
Northfields: The CML operator – Northfields Community Library – is functioning in digital form. More at: northfieldscommunitylibrary.org.uk Perivale: Contact the CML operator Perivale Community Hive for information perivalehive@yahoo.com
the legal arguments as to why Ealing Council Planning Committee would be mad to approve this application. With a high percentage of the local population bothering to express their views, together with the legal arguments, can the Council ignore such a groundswell of opinion from their electorate?
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) Up to 10 LTNS will have been installed across Ealing by the end of September 2020. Temporary road blocks (comprised of bollards and planters) are being set up. The aim is to make our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. In many LTNs local vehicle traffic has been diverted onto main roads. This is increasing journey lengths and times and increasing pollution on main roads. There is much opposition. On September 12th an estimated (or unprecedented) 2,500 people marched from Northfields to Ealing Town Hall in protest against LTN introduction. More on this next time. Putting the People of Ealing First
Hanwell Library
Acton Old Library On 19 March 2014 the Old Acton Public Library on Acton High Street closed its doors for good. In 2015 Ealing Council agreed with Curzon Corinthian Group to create a cinema in the splendid 1900 Grade II listed building. But it all came to nothing. Acton Arts Project (AAP) Community Interest Company (CIC) was established in May 2018 with a view to creating and running a cinema-based community hub in the building. On 15 October 2019, after lots of twists and turns, Ealing Council Cabinet agreed to rent the building to the AAP CIC. By December 2019 £115,000 had been pledged by the local community to support AAP. An AAP Planning Application was published in May 2020 (202045FUL) and was approved in September 2020. AAP expects its new cinema in Acton Old Library to open (Covid-19 willing) in Summer 2021. More at www.actonartsproject.com
