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Feeling Democracy now a mere corpse in West Ealing

As if it had nothing better to do TfL has granted £8.5 million to "improve" West Ealing. You would think the "consultation" with us natives would be run fairly and dispationately by a neutral organisation like the Electoral Reform Society. Oh no Mason and Costigan chose a cycling charity Sustrans with obvious bias to do the dirty business. Under M and C the diggers came in to remove half of Lammas Park with no public exhibition or involvement. Now I forgot the jack boot chaotic Low Traffic Neighbourhood Scheme. I feel oppressed. My voice don't count

Arthur Breens ● 226d9 Comments

Costigan’s campaign literature basically says she will vote for whatever the party policy is. Party above people every time, which is never good for democracy whoever is in charge.The promises Labour is making are laughable, just a case of saying what they think people want to hear. No detail about how any of it will be achieved.

Simon Hayes ● 214d

It's perverse in politics isn't it, the longer you are a "Grandee" and member of any party you are able to worm your way up the greasy pole regardless of any intellect.So when your Party gains power you are rewared with a Cabinet role or somesuch because you're an Old Boy/Girl.Despite being a numpty.The current wonderment has to be surrounding Angela Rayner.I mean.REALLY?!    😳

Rosco White ● 214d

The Conservative candidate lives in St albans? The local party should be soundly castigated for parachuting in someone with no connection at all to the constituency. Ealing Southall is one of the safest seats in London so the non-cycling Costigan will soon find herself even more woefully out of her depth as she flounders as a tiny fish in a very big and smelly pond.

N V Brooks ● 214d

An enormous "thank you" to the organisers of the hustings in Southall, Norwood Green last Sunday. Why was D.Costigan not there? Was it because she was just parachuted in at the last minute? Normally Labour members have a vote on an array of prospective parlimentary candidates who present CVs and are subjected to questioning. Rupa Huq MP (Ealing Acton) was selected that way and what an asset she has turned out to be to the electorate. Being parachuted in does mean you risk getting your lines caught in a tree on Norwood Green. Is this the reason she never attended? Have the Conservatives taken to sky diving as well? This "no-show no-apology" attitude damages democracy. Both parties should be ashamed of their candidates.

Arthur Breens ● 214d

Jesus, Costigan as an MP.    🙄

Rosco White ● 225d

Well, Costigan will be moving on to bigger and better things in a couple of weeks, although having read her election leaflet I’m not sure she fully understands how Parliament works.What’s really becoming obvious now is that the presence of consultation in Ealing has all but disappeared. The open and transparent administration rounded by Sneaky Pete Mason lasted as long as his pledge to stop tall towers being built in the borough.Unfortunately the vast majority of people don’t really take any notice of what goes on, even less understanding the consequences of any decision made by the council. There’s no scrutiny from the media and all policies get dressed up in PR puffery tyat is totally meaningless. Perivale Golf Course closure is a recent example. Gurnell redevelopment is another.

Simon Hayes ● 226d

And STILL The Grossly Uninformed keep voting this crock back in ...........

Rosco White ● 226d

Thank you Eric. I didn't know it was as bad as that. I don't feel as though I live in a democracy. I rarely see two of my councillors and the leadership (wrong word) fail to answer emails. If I fail to keep my side of the deal (Council Tax) I would have possessions seized. Can we make it work the other way? No Councillor surgeries means no expense claims. How about that for starters?

Arthur Breens ● 226d

It is quite bizarre that an cycling charity - some might say cult - is in charge of £8.6 million TfL/ Council expenditure. Sustrans can't even be bothered to meet local people in person. The last consultation review meeting was planned to be in West Ealing but it was converted to an online meeting just two days before the event. Oddly I wasn't able to view the slides used and one other local activist found himself muted for the whole of the meeting. No local Councillors participated in the meeting. One does wonder exactly what role local Councillors perform these days.Not unlike AI, MS Teams can be used both for constructive communication and for disabling communication.As for the big dig in Lammas Park, no-one in authority has come forward to explain exactly what is happening on this major project.As for Ealing LTNs - that was a huge waste of public money and a victory for 1,000s of residents. It also hastened the end of Julian Bell's 10 year+ Council leadership.

Eric Alan Leach ● 226d