https://pam.ealing.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=R2PZ23JMLG500

My Objection

I object to this proposal that is unnecessary, it will detract to the life of the residents, it is out of keeping with the character of the area and it is on over development.

Allow me to specify: as per 2018, there were 22,480 empty homes in London. Figures have gone much higher in recent years due to almost 2 million workers having left London, back to continental Europe and having moved to the countryside. It is an “empty market” worth £15 billion.

The Borough of Ealing cannot fix the many potholes on most of the Borough roads. It cannot fix problems with drains, as many areas are left with swimming pools when it rains. It cannot look after the parks as most of the rangers have been fired. It cannot clear leaves in most areas or fix uneven pavements where elderly can easily fall. It cannot keep roads clean or empty the few rubbish bins left (plenty of strategic areas are now empty of bins). It cannot look after the elderly with Social care, because there is no money, staff, proper supervision or professional management. Most libraries have been closed or remain open thanks to volunteers. Yet, they have money for developments, other unwelcome policies and they are considering the sale of Victoria Hall which is not even theirs to sell. (Awful management and bad policies have been created to push for the sale).

The last Census on London flats goes back to 2011. At that time, there were 1.75 million flats in London. On average 40,000 new homes are build every year. A sector that is registering a 9% increase per annum.

That is good for the economy if it wasn’t for the empty homes and a hole in the pocket worth £15 billion. Someone, of course is making money, cashing in on the misery of others.

In a meeting at Ealing Council, some three years ago, all proposals were passed by the Committee and the Councillors. This reminds me of a recent article about Chiswick “£1 billion car tech site “narrowly” gets green light”. When they say “narrowly” it means that all agreements took place before the meeting and a theatrical performance was staged. A poor performance if one pays attention, I must add.

Such performance took place when the Council decided to demolish the Art Deco Woolworth building in West Ealing to build flats and to build blocks of flats in Perivale. Despite signatures and petitions signed by thousands against such proposals, both cases “narrowly” passed and were won by the building companies. The flats in Perivale had hardly any parking provision, so the Councillors proposal was to introduce CPZs in the area for the residents already there before the building work started. Don’t we just love  – democracy!

There are currently hundreds of flats been built in Ealing, West Ealing, Southall and I am including Brentford too as it is “in the area”.

Questions come to mind. If residents have left London and many “homes” are empty where are the tenants coming from? If the future is for electric cars, how many electric charging points will we need and where will they be placed in a block of, say, 60 flats?

The previous Council leader, Julian Bell, was notorious for the monstrous malfeasance of his administration. He has turned the Uxbridge Road in a veritable canyon and money was wasted on installing and removing speed bumps and LTNs, some really stupid traffic regulations (too long to list them), social care, housing and cycle lanes. One has to wonder why so much of our money is wasted and why the Queen of suburbs is being cemented over and turned into an inhospitable overbuilt sun less neighbourhood.

Hounslow and Ealing are together in crime by assuring that asinine projects are approved. They have no interest on what residents think (the building monstrosity inside Gunnersbury Park comes to mind, not to mention the £1.3 million cycle lane in Boston Manor Road).

Corruption, greed, selfishness or simple stupidity is what drives these awesome public workers to continue, interrupted, with mercenary projects like this one. I object strongly to it.