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Labour Have Woken Up - I Wonder Why?

There was a knock on my door. A smiling Labour activist stood there, telling me how brilliantly things are going. They must have woken up, nearly nine months before an election.Clean, pristine streets? Crime free? Weed free? Don't worry and Just ignore the shoplifters and drug dealers we dodge daily. West Ealing, they say, is a shining example of regeneration. Yes, if your idea of regeneration is concrete towers blotting out the skyline.And the parks? A triumph, if you like "lakes" that look like industrial waste ponds.Meanwhile, nearly half our children’s centres are set to close or be repurposed, 12 out of 25 gone, cutting £11.8 million from services families depend on.But councillor perks? Untouchable. Remember the 23.8 percent basic allowance hike in 2022, quietly topped up each year for inflation. And council tax? Up around 20 percent in four years for a Band D.I will give them this: some new play areas and cycle paths. But set against the scale of decline elsewhere, they feel like crumbs from the table.Then there is the stunning derelict block near Dean Gardens, once meant to be a flagship development. The slogans on the hoardings still promise transformation. The reality is an empty shell, abandoned mid build, ghostly and still.And that is before even looking at their first year in government nationally. Gaza may dominate headlines, but when I am dodging shoplifters, drug dealers, and the risk of being poisoned in my own park, perhaps they could start fixing problems closer to home.I have voted for all parties before. But this time I will back whoever can stop another Labour candidate vanishing for four years, then reappearing with promises and leaflets.Four more years? Expect more towers, mouldy housing, rising rents, higher taxes, fewer services, crumbling streets, and yes, more 24/7 casinos (poor Hanwell — destined to follow West Ealing?) and music festivals.I know many will disagree. That is fine. It is called democracy. And yes, stupidly I did vote Labour last time. I regretted it, especially when 59 Labour councillors have been elected out of 70. That is not good for democracy or accountability. And let's face it, both have been in short supply in Ealing.Sigh. Double sigh. Vote wisely in May. PS: Produced by me, not AI.

Mark callan ● 58d12 Comments ● 52d

"government’s broader Devolution Programme, which aims to hand more power to local leaders"

All Governments, ESPECIALLY the current Liebore one, treat us as fools, the only thing this will "drive" is incompetence, laziness, arrogance and corruption.There's a Reckoning coming, people are fed up with The Lunacy.Revealed: Six English regions to gain powerful elected mayors under new devolution dealSix areas across England are set to establish new devolved mayoral authorities, following confirmation that each has met the legal requirements to proceed. This move forms part of the government’s broader Devolution Programme, which aims to hand more power to local leaders and drive regional growth. The regions moving forward with the new arrangements are: Cumbria Cheshire and Warrington Norfolk and Suffolk Greater Essex Sussex and Brighton Hampshire and the Solent Each of these areas will soon elect a mayor to lead a new strategic authority, with significant powers to shape the future of their region. These elected mayors will be responsible for overseeing key policy areas such as housing, transport, and wider strategic sectors, aligning local priorities with national devolution goals. To support the transition, the government has pledged to provide each new authority with a dedicated 30-year investment fund, enabling long-term planning and delivery. A standardised funding model will also be introduced to ensure greater transparency and fairness across the board. The announcement comes alongside the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which proposes further powers for local leaders. Under the bill, elected mayors would be granted the authority to intervene in planning applications deemed strategically important and issue planning permission through mayoral development orders – streamlining processes by removing the need for traditional applications. SOURCE:  https://blog.planningportal.co.uk/2025/07/23/planning-news-24-july-2025/?msdynmkt_trackingcontext=c4fd49c2-e24a-412b-a14f-938fc6300000#story-three

Rosco White ● 74d2 Comments ● 73d

Lammas Park works - Information

Over the past couple of months I have gathered information from various sources to better understand the works going on in Lammas Park.Of course I am only one person, and so I invite everyone here to add any sources they have, so that a comprehensive database can be formed. Hopefully this will mitigate any misinformation, deliberate or otherwise.I have posted the following elsewhere, and attracted more information, which is encouraging, as social media often splits people rather than brings people together.Please feel free to add more links in the comments. Obviously if this does not interest you, read no further. 1. The works in Lammas Park are designed for two main aims: to increase biodiversity, and to act as an outlet for coping with flooding in the area.2. A local resident tested the water in February claiming in an ITV interview  that the coli levels he found were ‘over 10,000 cpu/100mls’ which was ‘ten times what is found in the Thames, at 1,000 cfu/100mls’. The truth is that the Thames had an average of 2,869 cfu/100mls, while his own Lammas Park pond test came back at 2,600 cfu/100mls.3. Nevertheless, contamination is a serious issue, and so immediately after this, on the 7th March, Thames Water traced the contamination to a nearby house which had misconnected its waste pipe. The pond was cleaned, and the pipes were closed until the house in question remedies their error. There has not been any new water in the ponds since Thames Water performed the operation (the ponds have dried up) and they await confirmation of the pipes being properly connected. The ponds are currently empty, and have been for some time.4. The biodiversity aspect is to encourage natural wildlife to the area (eg. Frogs, hedgehogs, bats) as well as various plants and flowers which in turn attract insects such as bees. This type of biodiversity has been on the wane due in part to green spaces primarily covered in manicured lawns, and the decline in natural gardens and front gardens of houses in urban areas. The park will provide shelter, food, and places to breed for these animals, which is not just beneficial for the environment, but educational for us, especially children. Not all the flat lawn will be lost, in fact a large part will remain (as can be seen in the attached plan). The rest will resemble more of a ‘meadow’.5. SUDS are designed not just for wildlife, but they also benefit us in the long term through reducing carbon in the air. (See attached pdf for more information).6. The area is more susceptible to surface water flooding partly due to an increase in extreme weather (climate change) and an increase in paved areas which were previously green and porous (eg. driveways). There is a map available for you to see how the area is/will be affected by flooding, which is used for planning and insurance purposes.7. The cost to us, the residents of Ealing, is £150,000. This includes all landscaping and completion of the project. The remainder of the cost is covered by The Environmental Agency and Thames Water. This is a one-off cost, which in my opinion, when compared to the annual cost of something like pothole repair (£410,000) sounds like a good investment.8. The majority of Lammas Park will still be flat and football-friendly, as can be seen by today’s aerial viewI am happy to provide the following to anyone who wants it (I don't know how to add attachments here)* I have the results of a FOI from Ealing Council showing the breakdown of the cost of the project.* I have a transcript of communication with Thames Water, with a job reference number, should anyone wish to find out more re. the surface water pipes.* I have the Ealing resident’s original Lammas Park test, and comparison to tests carried out on the Thames.* A flood map for planning can also be viewed here: https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/map?seg=sw,hr&cz=516824.1,179928.9,16.599058* The council has published a plan of how the finished park will look, as well as an aerial photo of works in progress.* Here is a link to the news re. Funding for pothole repair in Ealing: https://ealing.news/.../ealing-council-welcomes-pothole.../* Here is a link a pdf with comprehensive and clear explanation of SUDS and how they work. There are many such documents available, however this one happens to use Ealing as one of its case studies https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/rba-gla_guide-parks_and_greenspace_final.pdf

Dominik Klimowski ● 103d36 Comments ● 74d

Floating bus stops, not such a great idea….

From Highways Magazine this week:The roll-out of floating bus stops has been halted by the Government as it responds to campaigns surrounding pedestrian safety.The Government has ordered an immediate suspension of bus stops where pedestrians board and disembark directly from or to a cycle lane.The pause was announced by Simon Lightwood, the local transport minister, in a statement to MPs on 26 June, with the minister referring to them as ‘problematic’ to people with visual impairments.The main concern highlighted by campaigners is that the floating stops force pedestrians – particularly vulnerable pedestrians or those with disabilities – to avoid cyclists using the bike lanes between the stops and the pavement.A UCL study commissioned by the charity The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association showed that guide dogs avoid using floating bus stops due to meeting cyclists travelling at speed.El Briggs, head of policy, public affairs and campaigns at The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: ‘Our research has shown the significant fear, anxiety and distress caused by bus stop boarders for disabled people.‘Our research shows bus stop boarders are confusing, difficult to detect, and can create frightening near-misses with cyclists. No one should have to risk stepping into harm’s way just to board or leave a bus.’Sarah Gayton, of the National Federation of the Blind UK, also commented: ‘All types of floating bus stops are not safe or accessible for blind people, as well as all bus passengers.‘Guidance will not resolve this design flaw. The only solution is for the bus to pull up to the pavement curb where passengers can board and alight without crossing any cycle lane.‘We want cyclists to be safe, but not at the expense of the most vulnerable people; pedestrians, but particularly blind and disabled pedestrians.’Cue the mouth breathing minority here claiming that all cyclists are perfect and never endanger anyone!

Simon Hayes ● 88d21 Comments ● 81d