Forum Topics

Ealing Broadway Station pods

It's good to see that Ealing Broadway Station has now got "Calm Soace " pods to relax in when your train is cancelled or delayed it will make things a lot better

Tom Corrigan ● 21m0 Comments ● 21m

Well done Hanwell Town

A great 1-0 victory away against a tough Flackwell Heath side in the first qualifying round of the FA cup.Onwards and upwards

N V Brooks ● 1d0 Comments ● 1d

The future of West Middlesex Golf Club

West Middlesex Golf Club is at risk of closure. Details and petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/preserve-west-middlesex-golf-club-for-the-community?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=9281a1b0-79fa-11f1-8eff-5164b704151d

bernard moody ● 53d8 Comments ● 1d

New planning rules give homeowners more flexibility to install solar panels .

The government is changing permitted development rights to make it easier for homeowners in England to install solar panels without applying for planning permission.New changes have been made through an amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and will come into effect on 27 August 2026.Under the new rules, the maximum projection for solar equipment installed on a wall, balcony or roof enclosure will increase from 0.2 metres to 0.4 metres. The existing 0.2-metre limit will remain for installations next to highways and on pitched roofs.For standalone solar equipment, the current limit of one installation within the curtilage of an individual house will also be removed, allowing homeowners to install more than one where the other permitted development conditions are met. The existing five-metre restriction from the property boundary will also be removed, although some installations in protected areas will still require prior approval.The changes will also introduce permitted development rights for plug-in solar panels, which are small photovoltaic systems that connect to a home’s electricity supply through a standard plug and socket. Restrictions will apply to installations on wooden fences, gates, walls and other means of enclosure to reduce the risk of fire spreading.Some additional planning controls will remain in place for properties in protected areas. For example, certain standalone solar equipment installed within five metres of a property boundary in designated areas may require prior approval from the local planning authority.The government says the changes are intended to support the generation of clean, homegrown power and give households more choice over how solar technology is installed.Solar equipment that would not qualify under the new permitted development rules can still be installed under the existing rules until 26 August 2027.SOURCE:  https://www.planningportal.co.uk/services/weekly-planning-news/planning-news-13-august-2026?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9e7l7xon-taA7ne-Q3tgKkaGNQx76L8MNnLAzl4xsqFlfQhfMXMLmK_txFSc1Gy-3Eky04v1GW5YWMbdVAzpbMP8DHvw&_hsmi=144938243&utm_content=144938243&utm_source=hs_email#new-planning-rules-give-homeowners-more-flexibility-to-install-solar-panels

Rosco White ● 1d0 Comments ● 1d

Gunnersbury Park Festival Debacle

I didn't have tickets for Lenny Kravitz nor was I going to any of the other festivals in Gunnersbury Park this year but I still think it is catastrophic that they are all going to be called off this year.I can hear music from the park and sometimes it is quite load but I do appreciate that the massive improvements we have seen are down to increased revenue being generated by events like these. I think it is a good deal that we get a nicer park at the cost of a bit of noise and disruption a few days a year (noise and disruption caused generally by people having a nice time).I understand your attitude might be different if you live very close to the park but you more than anyone benefit from its recovery. Councils are much more financially constrained than they used to be and, if the CIC collapses, the park may slip into dilapidation quicker than you think.

Mark Evans ● 114d17 Comments ● 1d

Walpole Park theatre

An interesting idea but one not without potential drawbacks. Relocating the very popular summer festivals for a start. Where would the beer festival go? Southall?  Northolt? Not Lammas though with its huge and unnecessary drainage holes.It’s quite a sizeable chunk of the park to take out of public use for three years. For many local residents it’s the only access to outdoor space they have.One also wonders what the covenants on the park say about putting up a semi permanent structure there. LBE has form in ignoring proper governance of its public buildings and spaces (the Victoria Hall and Town Hall spring to mind) so doubtless it will railroad this proposal through. The dangling of ££ in front of Mason and co’s noses will be too great a temptation to resist, no doubt.

Simon Hayes ● 3d7 Comments ● 2d

Great British County Drives

Which one of these drives would you most enjoy, from Ealing, qqjust for the fun of it?The Chilterns (Henley-on-Thames to Coombe Hill): A tranquil route featuring rolling chalk hills, the River Thames, and quiet country lanes.South Downs (Arundel to the Seven Sisters): This drive offers coastal vistas, chalk cliffs, and historic castle stops within easy reach of the capital.Box Hill Scenic Route: A short, winding drive through Surrey's wooded slopes and panoramic viewpoints.

Ben Owen ● 5d3 Comments ● 2d

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 ● 808d30 Comments ● 9d

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 ● 40d11 Comments ● 11d

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 ● 285d14 Comments ● 11d

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 ● 17d3 Comments ● 15d

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 ● 25d11 Comments ● 17d

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 ● 86d63 Comments ● 19d

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 ● 29d6 Comments ● 19d

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 ● 29d6 Comments ● 20d

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 ● 24d0 Comments ● 24d

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 ● 175d16 Comments ● 29d

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 ● 31d2 Comments ● 31d

About time!

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

N V Brooks ● 41d9 Comments ● 32d