Forum Topic

Do we need another restaurant ? DANE COACHWORKS W13 -

Planning Reference number PP/2014/6131 Do we really need the former site of Dane Coachworks to be replaced with another restaurant in West Ealing ? I have reviewed plans online for this new development that is currently being constructed as I type. Planning to accommodate 78 people with opening times 12 noon to 00:30 Fri & Sat with 11pm finishes the other nights. I highly suspect this to be yet another Persian restaurant (although not confirmed on the planning). How many more do we need in the area ?? Dane Road / St Helens Road is a very quiet residential area with sheltered accommodation for the elderly /disabled yards from this potential site, roads have very limited parking and I just don't understand how much more noise / pollution the area can withstand.  

Ian McDonald ● 4097d20 Comments

Showing my ignorance but what happens after an enforcement order is ignored?  Does is then become a criminal offence, like for instance contempt of Court, where wider sanctions can be brought in?

Philip Coe ● 3882d

I believe they have been served with an enforcement order, it will be interesting to see if they continue to trade or abide by the "stop" notice

Carol Atkinson ● 3884d

At the end of the day most of these so-called restaurants would be unviable if Ealing Council and the powers that be simply policed the minimum wage and investigated who worked there. Ealings cafes and restaurants are an unregulated employment scandal of cash-in-hand off-the-books below-the-minimum-wage exploitation.

Anna Leuven-Rice ● 3890d

I received the following information from one of the local councillors todayJust to keep you in the picture here, there haven't been any developments since your e-mail last month but the Planning Officers have assured me that they are well aware of the situation at the site and are ready to take enforcement action immediately if it actually opens as a restaurant or shisha cafe. They have also made the owner aware of this. They can't take pre-emptive action though and erecting the sign and installing the furniture does not does not in itself amount to a change of use.I went past the site myself yesterday and couldn't see any sign of activity but if you do notice that it has opened for business then please don't hesitate to let me and the Planning Department know.Incidentally, even if the owner appeals against the refusal of planning permission and the appeal is upheld; this will still not allow them to open as a shisha cafe as this was not part of the original planning application. Also, the officers consider that the grounds for refusing the application were "robust" and are unlikely to be overturned on appeal but we will have to see what happens if the applicant does appeal.Hope this information is useful

Carol Atkinson ● 3891d

A relative of mine lives in St. Helens Road and has told me there is now an illuminated sign on the outside of the building facing the Uxbridge Road.  The activity has been reported to the Planning Enforcement team and also to the local Councillor Paul Conlan.  Maybe there is nothing the Council can do until they start trading - it may not be a breach of planning until the business starts operating. Maybe someone could enlighten us on this ?

Carol Atkinson ● 3891d

So the Council refused a planning application to change the use of the premises to a restaurant. So what does the owner do ? Calls it Samara Lounge and carries on re-furbing the place anyway. He's painted the outside a glorious black and orange combination and fitting the place out. Does he know something we residents don't know about his appeal? I sincerely hope the council do not lose sight of the fact that there are three separate blocks of elderly and disabled sheltered accommodation less than twenty feet from the site.

Ian McDonald ● 3893d

Does anyone on this forum actually know what the site will be used for or is everyone just speculating?In addition, what constitutes "slumming" of an area and how can one be sure whether people are only interested in themselves and profit?

Dawit Demetri ● 4032d

It does strike me as odd as to just how many Persian type eateries/smokeries there are now in West Ealing. Are there really that many Persian people living in West Ealing? Or has it become a destination for middle eastern folk.It's a shame there isn't a bit more variety in West Ealing along the Uxbridge Road.

John Walker ● 4032d

From a concerned neighbour of mine "Unfortunately the building work seems to have very subtly started again on Dane Coachwork's.Whatever it is they’re doing it is definitely a continuation of their plans to convert the building into a “sheesha restaurant”, as they are having televisions and satellite dishes installed as we speak. They have also started work on a canopy internally as well as heating ducts etc.As I can only find the word “pending” on the council web site regarding it? Beyond that could Ealing Council please help us as this scenario is causing huge stress to the elderly and disabled residents directly opposite and to everyone else living nearby, it’s the slow and insidious “slumming” of our lovely area by people only interested in themselves and profit."

Ian McDonald ● 4033d

On second thoughts, I don't think we need yet another restaurant in that area of Ealing - we've many good restaurants and cafes there already - and besides that location is slightly off the beaten track and is a pleasant quiet little enclave imo.

Gerry Tan ● 4095d

Strange place for a restaurant! In terms of the old restaurant that has been boarded up for years (Billy Joe's I think was its last incarnation) this will be apartments and new retail space.

Diane Gill ● 4095d

From Butlers website:We're currently closed for renovations. We'll be back open at the start of February!

Jim McCauley ● 4096d

Im not sure that it will be an Italian place however I do know it will be called 'Plaza retaurant'take that info as you want.

Ron Gill ● 4096d

That's a shock, Butlers has been there for ever!

Jim McCauley ● 4096d

Does this involve the old Adam's Rib as I see that's gone now?Also looks like Butler's Thai is boarded up.

Simon Wycombe ● 4096d

The consultation for this application was originally due to close on 02/01/15 but has now been re-opened and ends on 30/01/15. The current works on the site are apparently all internal and do not require planning permission. However the external work and change of use to a restaurant will do. Anyone who has objections (or wants to make any other comments) should make sure they submit them to the Planning Department

Paul Conlan ● 4096d

An unusual location for a restaurant - its away from the frequent and familiar footfall of the Uxbridge Road. Good luck to the restaurant owners anyway, although there are plenty of eateries in the neighbourhood.

Gerry Tan ● 4097d

We could do with a nice italian since Gino's closed :-(

Jim McCauley ● 4097d

Not that it probably makes any difference to concerns over noise/pollution the drawing showing proposed front elevation has "Italian Restaurant" as the indicative signage.

Philip Coe ● 4097d

My friends dad used to own that business - was a lovely place too and in my younger and more reckless driving years, I had to visit him more than once to repair my prangs and not have to use the insurance

Guy Edema ● 4097d