Forum Topics

Webinar on 20mph Streets

If you are open to having a rethink on the benefits of 20mph then I strongly encourage you to attend this 90-minute webinar. It will give you a greater understanding on why transport planners and councillors across the country side with reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph in built-up areas. You must be open to listening to powerful arguments from transport professionals using stats that some of you think that some of us just make up. In the webinar you will also hear directly from councillors and local authority officers who have successfully implemented 20mph schemes. Their real-world insights into casualty reduction outcomes, the public engagement hurdles (let's face it, as evidenced on here, there really are some biggies!) and the delivery challenges (such as enforcement) will be well worth hearing.It's on Friday 22nd May @ 12.00 - 13.30. If I shared the link would you be registering?

Ben Owen ● 22d46 Comments ● 1h

Polanski credibility unravelling

If mad Zack had any genuine credibility in the first place it’s rapidly evaporating now.Turns out he’s not paid council tax for three years on the Hackney houseboat where he lived with his partner. While desperately trying to play it down as an oversight his PR team have only compounded the issue.According to Polanski he thought his council tax was covered by the landlord of a room he rented elsewhere in London where he stayed ‘occasionally’. Yet the Hackney houseboat was his registered postal address and, more seriously, where he was registered to vote.He will have signed a declaration of residency to get on the electoral roll. Staying somewhere ‘occasionally’ doesn’t meet the legal threshold for that. Knowingly or recklessly giving false information on an electoral registration is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison.What did he and his partner do when the council tax bill arrived every year? Pop it in the bin or toss it overboard to sink it the canal? Anyone else doing that would soon have the bailiffs at the doorIt’s just the latest in a series of things that shows this charlatan up for the idiot he clearly is. Well done to those of you who think the Greens really are the party of hope and change. Seems to be more of the same dishonesty and obfuscation.

Simon Hayes ● 1d2 Comments ● 1d

I have always wondered how a Borough could go from Blue to SOLID Red overnight .......

Police probe claims of 'family voting' in local elections after whistleblower says illegal practice was rife.By MARK HOOKHAM, ASSISTANT EDITOR (INVESTIGATIONS)Published: 22:01, 9 May 2026 | Updated: 01:41, 10 May 2026Police are probing reports of 'family voting' in the elections as a whistleblower claimed the illegal practice was rife.The criminal offence often involves a man going to a polling booth with his wife or relative and telling them how to vote.A local government source revealed that Manchester City Council had received 50 reports of the practice taking place. 'These were the ones that polling staff could clearly see,' they added.The council said it didn't recognise the 50 statistic. But a spokesman for its returning officer said 'preventative and corrective action was taken in a number of cases'. He added: 'Details of a very small number of incidents, in which potential offences may have been committed, are being shared with Greater Manchester Police to determine whether any follow-up action is required.'Police are also looking into a report of family voting in neighbouring Tameside.In February, independent organisation Democracy Volunteers said it had witnessed 'concerningly high levels' of family voting during the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester, with up to one in eight votes affected.In London's Tower Hamlets – regularly described as a 'rotten borough' – the Metropolitan Police are looking into claims that a candidate duped an elderly couple into handing over their votes to a so-called 'proxy' whom they do not know.In a video released online two days before the elections, the couple's son alleged the candidate, who The Mail on Sunday is not naming, persuaded his parents to appoint another person to vote on their behalf three weeks ago.'He [the candidate] somehow managed to manipulate my parents into signing over some details of theirs and now he's assigned them a proxy,' he said. 'We have no idea who this person is.'Another video, posted on March 25, shows an elderly man claiming that the same candidate 'cheated' him and his wife when he persuaded them to register for proxy votes.'He proceeded to complete proxy vote applications on our behalf appointing an individual unknown to us,' the man said in a complaint to the council's chief executive. Last night, the Met said its officers were assessing the most recent video and trying to contact the complainant. 'If an offence is identified, the Met will launch an investigation,' a spokesman said.The candidate, who was unsuccessful, said: 'I strongly reject these allegations. I did not manipulate or deceive anyone into assigning a proxy vote.' Tower Hamlets Council said 'all allegations of electoral malpractice' had been passed to the Met. It declined to say how many allegations had been made.The elections were also marred by claims of intimidation and harassment. In Oldham, a Ferrari owned by a councillor was smashed up in the early hours of Friday while votes were being counted. Kamran Ghafoor, leader of the Oldham Group of independent councillors, hit out at the 'toxicity' of politics in the area after what his group claimed was a 'targeted' attack.Disorder was reported at several polling stations across the borough, including alleged attempts to intimidate voters and 'shouting matches' between candidates in the street.Two opposing groups of party activists – totalling 16 people – outside a polling station in Werneth shouted at each other and at voters as they arrived to vote. Anger as election monitors looking for 'family voting' fraud are ordered to show 'sensitivity' article image'I found it quite intimidating,' one female voter said. 'There were several people around the front door. One had a Labour rosette on and about four others who were standing in the way. 'It's not what you expect when you go to vote.'Lewis Quigg, leader of the Reform group, said: 'It's getting worse because essentially you have got this split between the pro-Gaza independents and Labour and they are constantly at each other.'Peymana Assad, elected as a Labour councillor in Harrow, north-west London, said she had received death threats during the campaign 'to silence me for speaking on foreign policy'. She added: '[My election] is for the haters, the ones who told people I wasn't a real Muslim, called me a Zionist for believing in the two-state solution, called me Taliban because my father is a Southern Pashto speaking Afghan.'https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15804609/Police-probe-family-voting-local-elections-whistleblower-illegal.html

Rosco White ● 3d5 Comments ● 1d

Hanwell Hootie

Once again a wonderful Hanwell Hootie, some great bands , big crowds making for a great vibe. Well done the organisers and volunteers.

David Burke ● 1d0 Comments ● 1d

Ealing Council fat cats

It seems austerity isn’t extended to the senior executives at the council, where whopping salaries and pay increases are still the norm, despite all the claims that there’s insufficient money to cover essential services such as children’s centres.Chief executive Tony Clements earned himself a 10 percent pay rise last year, despite being almost invisible in the role. He now earns £224,538 a year, plus a whacking great contribution to his pension.In all there are 39 executives earning over £100,000 a year at the council, although questions should be asked if this is value for money considering many departments are underperforming and frequently find themselves on the end of rebukes from the Local Government Ombudsman.Meanwhile our ‘hard working councillors’ have themselves a nice increase in allowances last month, the third since Labour was re-elected in 2022. Cabinet members get almost £60,000, while Peter Mason pockets £76,500 for essentially being a used-car salesman for the borough.If you think cabinet members deserve this huge financial reward do consider ether some, such as Shital Manro, have no proper grasp of the portfolio for which they are responsible and really aren’t bothered by that. His performance at last month’s WEN meeting was cringeworthy, although he thinks an audience of white middle-class residents isn’t ’representative of the borough’!Cabinet meetings last half an hour or less. There’s no discussion or debate as everything is already decided by Mason and his inner cabal. They ought to be scrutinising policy and doing their due diligence on matters such as appointing building contractors. The failure of Henry Construction and the loss of £30-40 million is a case in point.Reports are compiled by council officers. Sometimes the cabinet members read them, sometimes not. They certainly don’t do the legwork.As council tax and other charges have just been increased maybe ask yourself if the money really is going where it’s needed. There’s an election in three weeks. Vote wisely.https://www.ealing.news/ealing-council/ealing-council-ceo-gets-20-5-pay-rise/

Simon Hayes ● 28d3 Comments ● 1d

Are the Spuds going down?

Why are they so shit?! Is it the Board or is it the players? Or is it both? Igor Tudor, what an utterly stupid managerial appointment! Aside from all of that, their team Captain on the day is being stupid enough to give the ref no choice other than to send him off. Do either of them really care? I thought you would all be interested to know that I am laughing out loud at the mess that they are in.Happy Friday everyone!

Ben Owen ● 68d21 Comments ● 2d

Rosco Boycott

I have been a silent reader of this forum for quite some time now and have noticed a pattern of people on here writing well-argued and thoughtful posts in response to Rosco's inflammatory comments. He is obviously not here to have a civil debate, but merely to get a rise out of people and cause arguments. Arguing with an idiot is like wrestling with a pig, you both get muddy and the pig enjoys it. Therefore, I propose a Rosco boycott (a Roscott if you will), in which we don't engage with his blatantly ragebaiting posts and comments. He seems to live and breathe hate, so if we do not engage, we starve him of his oxygen. Maybe this way, he'll find something constructive to do in his free time. Rosco, I know you will read to this post and comment something to the effect of "classic lefty behvaviour" with a childish laughing emoji. I will not engage with you any further, and I hope you get out of the hateful right-wing bubble you have trapped yourself in, though I doubt you will because you said you don't 'have time to do research'. "The worst kind of idiot is the one who doesn't think they're an idiot." That one goes out to you, buddy.

Greg Allen ● 5d14 Comments ● 4d

What are your predictions for the Ealing council election results

Put your money where your mouth is and suggest what the make up of the council will be when the results are announced.

Paul James ● 5d14 Comments ● 4d

FREE fitness for woman in Acton (W3)

Our June term of Movement on the Mount is officially open for registration! We are bringing a 4 days of fitness to the heart of Acton, and the best part? Every single session is FREE for women in our community, with funding from Sport England!The June Line-up is our biggest line time:• Mondays (6pm): Street Dance (Women & Girls 15+) – High energy and great vibes.• Wednesdays (9.15am): Body weight interval circuits ( Women 18 to 60) – Get your heart rate up at your own pace.• Fridays (10am): Dance Fit – Shake off the week and feel fantastic.• Saturdays (10.30am): Yoga – Find your balance and stretch out the stress.Beginners are welcome to all classes!Spaces are limited to ensure everyone gets the best experience. The new term starts Monday 1st June, but you must register your interest before  9pm on 25th May. Don't wait until the last minute!Register here: https://actionwestlondon.org.uk/.../movement-on-the-mount/

Zahra Shah ● 5d0 Comments ● 5d

Peter Mason

Old Sneaky Pete would do well to think about who has been running things in Ealing for 16 years before spouting off about restoring ‘pride in our streets’.Like most complacent and lazy politicians he’s only just woken up to the fact that it’s Ben a slide into shite under his watch. Trying to shift blame onto Liz Truss and anybody else for his poor decision making and lack of interest in what most people really want from the council smacks of desperation.Tackling the cost of living by reducing the cost of bulk waste collection isn’t much of an argument. Perhaps not putting council tax up by the maximum for two years running and increasing other fees hugely would be better. Meanwhile he’s happy to tackle his own cost of living by putting his allowances up to £76,000 a year, almost double what he pocketed when becoming council leader in 2021. Cabinet ministers scrape by on £60k a year, while absentee chief executive Tony Clements earned a pay rise taking his salary package to almost £300,000.Little wonder there’s no money to keep children’s centres open.

Simon Hayes ● 18d28 Comments ● 5d

On a happier note .....

....today will see the back of any number of underperforming councillors. I wish them well in finding an alternative source of income, preferably not from the public purse.

N V Brooks ● 6d4 Comments ● 5d

A free e-bike to get from Gunnersbury Station to the Gtech for the West Ham game

Ahead of the West Ham game, the Brentford fan group SustainaBees, in partnership with Voi (the e-bike firm) and London Cycling Campaign, are running free e-bike rides from Gunnersbury Station to the Gtech. If you would like to get from the station to the ground in double-quick time, then join our ride!The Voi bikes will be outside the station. SustainaBees will be providing free e-bike vouchers on a first-come-first-served basis to fans. The rides will depart at 1.30pm, 2.00pm and 2.30pm. All rides will be along the quiet roads that run parallel to Chiswick High Road. The rides will be led and marshalled by experienced cyclists.How to get the free bike voucher:1. You must have the Voi app downloaded and installed on your phone;2. No booking is required, but there are a limited vouchers so aim to arrive early.3. If you are passing Gunnersbury Station on your own bike, for an extra bit of camaraderie feel free to join our ride too.Reminder about the club's Bike to Brentford schemeA free Dr Bike maintenance mechanic will be available to tune up your bike. The mechanic will be situated in the huge bike parking area in front of the old superstore (next to the A4)There are QR codes in the bike parking areas next to the superstore or in the NW corner of the ground to enter a free prize draw and obtain free food vouchers for the Palace game.

Ben Owen ● 12d5 Comments ● 6d

The past is a foreign country

'The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.'

Dominik Klimowski ● 54d20 Comments ● 7d

Do we have the sleaziest & most corrupt Central Government in living memory?

The latest cover-up revelations regarding Mandy's US Ambassador appointment must surely be the end of Comrade Starmer.Unfortunately just another Comrade will replace him, in all likelihood a Politburo Member even more corrupt and incompetent.At least, with a fair wind, and voters engaging their common sense, we have a good chance of being shot of Liebore in Ealing.

Rosco White ● 26d8 Comments ● 9d

Hope for Ealing from an Unlikely Direction

Word is that the council staff are absolutely fed up with the red tape and the rigid way the current lot are running things. The talk is that if the next election brings in a change of leadership, there’s a plan ready to go to save Lammas Park and get Stirling Road back open straight away. The idea is to stop paying to dump the recycling centre's landfill and use it to fill the SUDS instead. If they can dodge the landfill tax and save on the tipping fees, they can use that money to get Stirling Road up and running again

Jan Leliwa ● 12d1 Comments ● 12d

Dickins Yard and Christchurch food stalls

They seem to have all gone! Any ideas why?

Peter King ● 116d19 Comments ● 12d

I am looking for a surgery in Ealing that DOES NOT use an Ai receptionist

Recently moved to Ealing and I am horrified to encounter EMMA in use at my new G. P. - the AI receptionist that makes it impossible to book an appointment - obviously I can't name which surgery, though I can ask: does anyone know of a G. P. Surgery WITHOUT Emma, and which is not planning to use Emma. Good article in The Telegraph "AI ‘receptionist’ stopping patients from making GP appointmentsUsers complain of lengthy phone calls, being hung up on, and regional accents not being understood". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/04/19/ai-receptionists-stop-patients-making-gp-appointments/

Jan Leliwa ● 24d2 Comments ● 12d

Your Voice Your Town

Does anyone know what Your Voice Your Town is supposed to do?Half a million to be distributed by a bunch of people who stuck their hands up to another bunch of people who stuck their ideas in. It says its going to make people 'feel safe'. Not BE safe, just FEEL safe. The people distributing the money and those receiving it don't need any qualifications in making neighbourhoods safer.In other words, half a million pounds distributed to who-knows-who by who-knows-who to do who-knows-what. https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201324/community/3274/your_voice_your_town

Paul Taylor ● 82d8 Comments ● 14d

Know Nuffing

The new parking regime is a bewilderment to me. I met a parking enforcement officer and asked nicely if he would explain it to me. In true Faulty Towers fashion he said that he knew ..... On the same walk I noted expensive new junction alignements Churchfield Road/Culmington Road and Elers Road/Churchfield Road/Lammas Park Gardens. I noted the majority of car drivers were unable to stay on their side of the road due to the diminutive lane size, the angle of the turn and new position of the curbs. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the transport designers were at best unable to read a scale ruler or at worse they knew......

Arthur Breens ● 28d48 Comments ● 17d