Forum Topics

postal voting

When it comes to voting by post I was amused to find that Ealing's instructions for voting include an illustration of a post box with the initials E Ⅱ R on it. Duh!

Ben Owen ● 796d26 Comments ● 1d

Del Boy gets on the gravy train

Ealing Council leader Councillor Peter Mason has been elected leader of the Local Government Association (LGA) Labour Group, succeeding Bev Craig after she became Mayor of Greater Manchester.The LGA Labour Group describes the holder of the position as “Labour’s leader in Local Government”. The appointment also makes Councillor Mason senior vice-chair of the cross-party LGA, which represents councils in England and Wales.The role, for which his predecessor Ms Craig was listed as receiving an annual LGA allowance of £46,543 for 2025/26, involves representing Labour local government in discussions with the Government and Labour Party, including at Labour’s Annual Conference and National Policy Forum.Following his election win (10 August 2026), Councillor Mason posted on X: “Labour in local government deliver day in, day out. Champions of local community, delivering growth in every place, putting power back into people’s hands. Thank you to colleagues for electing me the Leader of the LGA Labour Group. So much to do.”The appointment adds to Councillor Mason’s existing responsibilities with both Ealing Council and the LGA.He currently receives an annual LGA allowance of £20,370 as chair of its Improvement Committee, a position he has held since 11 March 2026. Before taking on the chairmanship, LGA records show he was a deputy chair, a position carrying an annual allowance of £10,184.As a councillor and leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Mason receives a total annual allowance of £76,570.52 from the council. This comprises the £13,756 basic allowance paid to all councillors and a £62,814.52 special responsibility allowance for serving as council leader.

Peter King ● 4d3 Comments ● 3d

Old Clothes, Recycle or Give to Charity - If your friends wouldn't buy it, bin it?

I recently took some bags of old clothes to Greenford Road reuse and recycling centre and the person in the cabin told me they now have no clothes bins there and my only option was to put them with landfill stuff. I checked out the metal clothing banks on the corner by the shops near me and these were full up and had more bags of clothes dumped around them.By chance I was listening to You and Yours on the radio and an expert was talking about the difficulty there is to recycle clothes.Listen here at 40m27s:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yvrkAnd they had a programme the next day highlighting the difficulty charity shops have in processing clothes that people think can be recycled into new fabrics.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002yx3kThe council website mentions some recycling centres that accept textiles  but the West London Waste Authority organisation they mention does not accept clothes, and TRAID only want good stuff that will sell - not clothes that are worn out.https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201171/recycling_services/292/reuse_and_recycling_centres_and_sites/4So when these old flared nylon trousers I've been wearing for 50 years finally can't be patched up any more, I think I'm going to put them in the bin.

Alan Anderson ● 28d10 Comments ● 4d

If your Gardener uses a Leaf Blower, you might want to watch how effective they actually are.

Particularly if you're paying by time.Because they're not only very noisy but completely useless, IMHO.Of course, Ealing Council has hundreds of the bloody things with employees to match, idly moving carp from one location to another, where it sits in a lump, and then gets blown away by the next wind.       😁

Rosco White ● 13d11 Comments ● 5d

West Ealing Farmers' Market

This event has been taking place every Saturday for well over 10 years in Leeland Road. But Saturday 20 June will be the last market here for a while.Why? Ealing Council wants to make changes to Leeland Road. The biggest change seems to be building a cycling contra-flow system along the road. The market is to move to The Avenue, West Ealing starting Saturday 27 June. Exactly where in the Avenue is not clear. Neither is it clear where the farm produce supply vehicles will park up.To make matters even more complex, Thames Water is planning to dig up parts of The Avenue as from 6 July. On Saturday 11 July the junction between The Avenue and Drayton Green Road will be closed.No doubt cyclists will be pleased about this.

Eric Alan Leach ● 74d63 Comments ● 7d

Affinity Water, shame on you!

For over a week now there's been a leak in Stanhope Park Road, Greenford. Several people have contacted Affinity Water. They told me it was the council's fault because they hadn't yet given permission for them to do the repair. So I contacted our councillors and one of them straight away got in touch with the relevant authorities. Two days later still nothing. Meanwhile, Affinity Water, who have recently put up their charges massively, continue to piously pontificate, telling us to save water and reminding us we're under a hosepipe ban. What a farce! Can thee people not be called to account in some way? Should Affinity Water be fined for the thousands of gallons they have so far wasted - and continue to waste?

Maria Isabel Cunha ● 17d6 Comments ● 7d

Abandoned blocks in Leeland Road

HiHas anyone investigated how much the security is costing the community tax payers to 'protect'the abandoned blocks of flats left by Henry Construction for 2 years and counting, only for them to likely be knocked down again??

Charles Clode ● 273d13 Comments ● 7d

No end in sight to South Ealing Road gas mess - massive traffic jams by South Ealing Tube

Cadent Gas and contractor KTL caused chaos in South Ealing yesterday. They dug up the east side of the pelican crossing by the tube station. Now, the road is a single-lane nightmare with temporary signals. This hole has a permit until the 14th though that looks too hopeful. Workers said the work was on the medium pressure main. They dug the hole on the west side of the road even though they were told the medium pressure main was on the west side by locals.- Public Transport Chaos* Bus stops on both sides are closed.* No temporary stops are available.* Passengers with heavy suitcases must walk half a mile to catch a bus.* The tube station has no warning signs.- Poor Planning and HistoryThe work permit lasts until the 14th. However, workers say they need to fix a gas main on the west side. Yet, they dug up the east side first.This is the same crew that handled the A4 to St Mary's Road project years ago. That disruption was unforgettable.- Current SituationToday at 1:43 PM, the site was empty. No work has been done since 5:00 PM yesterday.Traffic queues are long in both directions. The weather is extremely hot. People are struggling to walk to distant bus stops with luggage.- Key Questions for CadentWill you dig up the whole road to reach the medium pressure main? Or will you fill this first hole first?Drivers and commuters should avoid South Ealing Road and the tube station entirely.Would you like me to help you draft a formal complaint to Cadent Gas or the local council? I can also help you find the contact details for reporting these roadwork issues.

Phil Junger ● 17d6 Comments ● 8d

Outdoor Fitness Survey

Welcome to Apex Performance.We are conducting a questionnaire to better understand outdoor fitness. Please take a moment to provide your valuable inputQuestionnaire time 1-3 minutes 🕰️ Thank youhttps://forms.gle/pSFJRewSK1Ljm4tL7

tyler emmanuel ● 11d0 Comments ● 11d

Boston manor cycling route

What’s happening with the Boston manor cycling route? I thought building work was meant to start last year

Andrew Boynton ● 163d16 Comments ● 16d

Hardly flattering

It would appear that Deirdre Costigan's accelerating political career has come to a grinding halt under Andy Burnham.She has been expunged from the whips office and Private Eye's assessment is that she "used to sit on the front bench like a bag lady on the bus, twitching and muttering to herself".

N V Brooks ● 19d2 Comments ● 18d

About time!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cd9w2l2wqvdo

N V Brooks ● 29d9 Comments ● 20d

BBC London News

Fame at last for Ealing traffic planners on BBC London News yesterday. Exposed....cycle route along Uxbridge Road in West Ealing is "advisory" and parking restrictions not enforced equals danger. And another item this morning police saying that electricity powered bicycles should not excede 15 mph and that many were doing 45mph effectively mopeds without tax,insurance, Mot, crash helmets etc. Seems to have taken a few years for the penny to have dropped! Pedestrians having to navigate a pile of hire bikes fly tipped opposite Ealing Broadway Station. Does anyone get out of Percival Castle? Can't resist my pet moan...wildebeast crossings all grey, no black and white zebras here in LBE! So dangerous for those people who like to wear black especially at dusk.

Arthur Breens ● 20d0 Comments ● 20d

Keep Your Cool in Heatwaves

https://actforealing.org/2026/06/11/keep-your-cool-in-heatwaves-in-ealing/

Philippa Bond ● 64d16 Comments ● 21d

Hanwell Clock Tower Casino.

The appeal for a slot machine arcade previously turned down by the Council has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.Success for the local campaign led by Polly Knewstub  well done.

David Burke ● 25d1 Comments ● 25d

LBE is a very high Rental/HMO Borough & increasing, is this the reason for Labour LBE's "attitude"?

Renters/Transients mostly don't really care about their locality so Labour controlled LBE takes full advantage of that. I also suspect that most Renters/Transients may vote Labour.If we still had the number of Owner Occupiers that LBE enjoyed decades ago things I am sure would be very different and better now, they certainly were under the Conservative run LBE.Sadly, I expect the decline will continue.

Rosco White ● 31d2 Comments ● 29d

Lammas Park (again)

I've just looked at the latest Ealing newsletter and the first item relates to parks in the borough being awarded a Green Flag. Looking at the list, and there are lots on the list, I spied Lammas Park. Is it still messed up with water filled holes around the perimeter or have the Council filled them in ? Of course with this hot weather I doubt if any water remains in situ.

Peter Tolhust ● 32d4 Comments ● 31d

I found gold in Ealing

I can spot talent. There are things in Ealing that need praise. Ealing Broadway Station contains a ticket office that is a jewel in Ealing's Crown. Fast efficient service.....top class. Beats the computer at home into a cocked hat. Many organisations who provide our services need to learn from these cheerful, well-trained, knowledgeable staff who sort out issues like fairy godmothers. Bravo!More gold to be found at Ealing Hospital. Visit the GP bus ride walk in within minutes for an X ray. Treatment like a football star. Wow!

Arthur Breens ● 33d3 Comments ● 33d

Priorities Transport  Improvements or Flower Arranging

I note many pedestrian crossings in Ealing are now not black and white but various shades of grey. This lack of maintenance is a safety risk. Same can be said for white triangles on road humps. Piles of fly-tipped hire bikes blocking busy pavements. Items that could be regarded as urgent and relatively inexpensive. Ealing seem to have another agenda. At the top of Ealing's list appear to be expensive modifications to road layouts and at junctions. They seem to be cropping up everywhere. One example of many might be the alterations to the junction with Northfield Ave outside the Foresters. Have residents been calling for this for years? Is there any accident data supporting these works and any data collection to show the improvement? And what did it cost? Just down the Avenue at Northfields Station the curb, road and parking arrangements are such that buses and larger vehicles can't pass thereby compromising all road users; cyclists, pedestrians and car/lorry/bus drivers. And still no lift at Northfields Station. Now these ARE priorities. And priorities supported by residents over the years. Have the enormous monies from motorist fines driven this spate of expensive modifications? You don't have to have a large nose to smell a rat and to suspect something is wrong. Readers may help with their own examples and others may enlighten me. Help please.

Arthur Breens ● 38d16 Comments ● 34d