Forum Topic

Walpole park kiosk

I have been advised today that both the cafe and my kiosk in walpole park have been given to a company by the name of the social pantry. Supposedly a small family run business.. check that one out!According to Clare Gough they provide delicious Meals at reasonable prices for the privileged few. Apparently PMGT were attracted by their strong social ethos on your behalf. What about the social ethos for what really is a small locally run business that you are about to eliminate. Check their prices and shame on both PMGT and Ealing council.

Alan Dillon ● 2910d15 Comments

I know one of the Trustees who is a local and dedicated person. We had a discussion about the tendering process, but i did say about the lack of Transparency when it comes to Ealing Council. It seems appropriate the North Korea has their Embassy in our borough!! This is the principal of outsourcing to be no longer responsible. As for holding anyone to account i am sure that if Ealing Council was still in control we would see even less accountability. So local business and enterprise is discouraged. Very sad to see.

Peter Chadburn ● 2906d

And who appointed the Trust? both for Walpole, Pitzhanger and probably a few more.  Setting up Community Interest Companies (CIC) removes any influence the council taxpayer has of holding the "Boards" of our Parks and Museums to account. I did not vote for this council to have them relinquish their management of these/our properties. And look at the trustees, a couple of Pitzhanger's make for interesting reading. Do they live in the borough? what's in it for them? Should there not be a local interested and park using resident as one of the Trustees. There are more than likely plenty of Ealing residents who have the professional experience to sit on the Trust. Were the positions advertised? This is the sort of information that should be included in Around Ealing before rather than after the done deal.

Libby Kemp ● 2907d

And again with working linkhttp://www.pitzhanger.org.uk/trust

Paul James ● 2907d

Everybody is moaning about the council, but the trust made the decision:http://www.pitzhanger.org.uk/trust

Paul James ● 2907d

I would assume that is the case Libby. I had thought about the venue for my Wedding with a specialist catering mix but that would probably not be allowed.

Peter Chadburn ● 2907d

So can we assume that if you want to hold a party at Pitzhanger you will have to use Social Pantry? Enlightened event venues usually have a short list of about six companies from which to choose from the budget through the middle price to the expensive. Come on Ealing get your act together you really are not serving your community.

Libby Kemp ● 2907d

The council appears to lack transparency and the elite are driven by a greater purpose and that purpose (whatever it is?) does not seem to align with what the local people need?? Transparency is totally absent. I hope that in the new influx of councillors we get some people who wont accept the BS. The Labour Party is alive however in Ealing it seems to have been hijacked. This is the same debate when comparing New Labour and the Tories back when Cameron came into power with the coalition. There had become a perceived wisdom about how government should operate that was dictated by the consultancies and big business. This Social Pantry looks an attractive organisation that says all the right things. I can see why they wanted a caterer to help make Pitshanger Manor a goto place for weddings and events. But the kiosk for Park users is a completely different entity. New Labour (or old Tories) as I called them love this kind of enterprise. It just sounds good in their eyes. I am looking forward to seeing whether we have some momentum types standing who are prepared to give the inner circle a good kicking in the Council.

Peter Chadburn ● 2907d

Ealing Council make the Tories seem a really viable option. Anyone who does that is doing something seriously wrong. They are now all about extreme capitalism, jobs for the boys, privatisation, shady deals, spin and BS. The Labour party I once knew is dead - in Ealing specifically.

Scott Jones ● 2907d

From removing business from well-established local providers, to creating CPZs which make it difficult for small businesses (such as our car servicer of choice) to operate and increasing rental on street traders' pitches Ealing Council seems to have a complete disregard for small local companies, many of which have served the public well for generations.Why are they so obsessed with driving small independent concerns out of business?And who wants to pay £4.50 for a bacon sandwich or £10 for breakfast anyway?

Thelma Leach ● 2907d

Looking at companies house...another one of these miraculous businesses who pay virtually jack diddly tax! Also, looking at their accounts I wouldn't touch them with a barge poll in general. Mind you when someone is a rich kid whose Daddy worked in Saudi etc I'm sure tax avoidance and the like is the norm! Disgusting that a contract has gone to someone like this. Ealing is becoming the place of you're either minted or you must leave. The prices are astronomical.Very sad to see The Dillon business being replaced by some posh BS like this. Maybe daddy donated some monies to Coke and Hookers (©Private Eye) Julian Bell ??

Scott Jones ● 2908d

How sad. A sit down in a peaceful park with perhaps a coffee will be further away from a lot of people. Never thought I would see the day.

Nicholas Beard ● 2908d

Check the menu prices for their current cafes. Extortionate prices that the majority can not afford.

Alan Dillon ● 2908d

Never seen a web site more geared to corporate virtue signalling as opposed to telling you what the company actually does. They are clearly very adept at pressing the buttons that helps you win these local authority tenders. Not very optimistic that they will see provision of basic affordable snacks as a high priority.

Helen Cavanagh ● 2908d

Sorry to hear that Alan. I have had a quick look and as small family businesses go they usually can't afford slick websites with charity partners and go to catering for all events. So a chain in other words. Small family run business is a bit rich!! The social ethos comes at a cost. So obviously they will be involved in catering for weddings and other events there. Very sorry Alan. The massacre of the independents continues. Take care Peter

Peter Chadburn ● 2909d

I have been advised today that both the cafe and my kiosk in walpole park have been given to a company by the name of the social pantry. Supposedly a small family run business.. check that one out!According to Clare Gough they provide delicious Meals at reasonable prices for the privileged few. Apparently PMGT were attracted by their strong social ethos on your behalf. What about the social ethos for what really is a small locally run business that you are about to eliminate. Check their prices and shame on both PMGT and Ealing council.

Alan Dillon ● 2909d