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Ealing Notes
By Will French, Roger Green, Eric Leach and Steve Toft
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
Covid-19
On 11 February 2021, Ealing Council conceded to a Judge that it had made mistakes in its 2020 LTN Experimental Traffic Orders (ETOs). Implementing these ETOs resulted in the construction of 30 road blocks in Ealing, using planters and bollards. As a result of these mistakes the Council revoked the ETOs and had to pay the legal bills of objectors who mounted a legal challenge against the Council’s ETOs.
During the Winter Ealing had consistently high rates of infection – sometimes the highest in London. Since early January rates across Ealing have fallen. The mass vaccination effort in Ealing has been impressive. It’s no coincidence that all four mass vaccination centres are being run by local NHS Trust, Clinical Commissioning Group, GP Surgery and Community Pharmacy staff. Contrast this with the centralised fiasco of PPE equipment sourcing in 2020 and the continuing, poorly performing Test & Trace initiative being run by Serco and management consultants.
Initially in 2020 removable bollards prevented private vehicles from driving through these road blocks. These bollards were regularly ‘illegally’ removed and the Council then removed all the bollards. Enforcement continued using fixed and mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. In 28 January 2021 the Council removed some nationally unapproved green ‘ROAD OPEN’ signs which had graced the sides of the planters for some weeks. 1,000s of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) have been issued to people who have driven through the road block gaps. On 17 February 2021, new LTN ETOs came into force. However most of the complaints by residents apply equally to these new ETOs as applied to the original ones. For more information: www.oneealing.co.uk
In February we had mass asymptomatic testing for the Covid-19 South African variant in Dean Gardens car park and home testing in parts of W7 and W13. Probably few positives will be discovered in a meaningless and very expensive exercise. By mid February over 46,000 Ealing residents had been vaccinated. You can find out on a daily basis the number of new Covid-19 cases in your neighbourhood and the current Covid-19 infection rate at: coronavirus-staging.data.gov.uk
Perceval House Previous Neighbours Papers have described the Council’s controversial plans in partnership with the Vistry group, to demolish its Perceval House offices, and replace them with new offices a new public library and 477 flats in tower blocks up to 26 storeys high. The plans were presented to the 17th February 2021 Planning Committee and fiercely criticised by Rupa Huq MP and Cllr Seema Kumar. To the surprise of all, after two hours of heated debate, members voted to defer proceedings. The scheme will be brought back to a future planning meeting soon. It has been condemned by over 1,700 objectors who think the Council is trying to cram too much onto a very cramped site. They say the resulting development will do serious harm to Ealing’s historic character and several key listed buildings, particularly by setting a precedent for a cluster of 4
high buildings in central Ealing, and depriving surrounding homes of their natural light. Critics also criticise the inadequate provision of affordable housing, an insufficiency of family homes and the lack of play space Even if the Council approves the proposals, as it was expected to do on the 17th February, the plans have to go to the GLA for the London Mayor to approve. The delay threatens to complicate things seriously as the row will be caught up in campaigning for the May Putting the People of Ealing First
2021 Mayoral elections. Parties from all sides of the political divide look like being inundated with objections to the plans from critics. For more information: www.ealingmatters.org.uk www.stopthetowers.org
