Forum Topic

West Ealing flower shop - in danger!

I was buying some daffs in west Ealing yesterday at the stall by Sainsbury and Mark told me there was a real danger they'd have to close. Apparently there is a planning app in for a hotel (where the £ shop was) and the ground floor has glass windows, and they've been told they'll have to close. Shame, it's a good flower shop. He has a petition up and running but it has to be in by Thurs.  lets see if we can do something? Get the architects to change their design or something.

Viv Ellis ● 4537d31 Comments

That doesn't seem very fair.  :-(

Tony Colliver ● 4442d

Or, for a real treat; 'butterfly' a leg, make some short slashes in the skin side and place slices of preserved lemon and half cloves of garlic in the slashes.Cook quickly to seal and leave moist and delicious.

Nigel Brooks ● 4442d

Tony and Nigel, there's nothing like new season lamb, roasted until slightly pink, mint sauce, new potatoes, red currant jelly and some fresh salad - bliss on a plate!Oh and a glass or three of Cote du Rhone plonk.

Gerry Tan ● 4442d

No plug needed.New season lamb yummee!

Nigel Brooks ● 4442d

Thanks for the support Gerry.We've just moved over completely to new lamb last week. The old lamb was getting too close to hogget and not worth the money. The new is still quite pricey, buy to eat, not to freeze and enjoy one of the best products nature has to offer in it's absolute prime. It's all Oxford Down. Just season lightly and enjoy it for what it is. I love this time of year! (Thanks for the openening for a shameless plug :)

Tony Luckhurst ● 4442d

Pleased that you are to continue trading in West Ealing - we need a good butcher, 'cos we don't like the stuff in Sainsburys - hope there won't be many problems during the building of the new hotel.Btw, when will new season lamb be available?

Gerry Tan ● 4442d

No I won't. I'll have to get another job to pay my bills. I'll be compensated for handing in my lease and that money will go to movement and storage of eqpmnt and re-fitting the shop for our return. I've been offered a new lease as part of the deal.I'm going to commit to our future in West Ealing and take my chances.I've been heartened and encouraged by the support I've had from the local community during this episode.

Tony Luckhurst ● 4442d

Will you be compensated for loss of trade / profits during that period?

Tony Colliver ● 4443d

From your report Viv.. "A council spokesperson told me that none of the existing traders; Luckhurst Butchers, and stalls for flowers, cards and T-shirts will be affected." Just to say, we'll definately be very affected, as we'll have to close for 4-6 months. With regards the hotel, see.. http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/seraphine-hammersmith-hotel-hammersmith-83953/hotel-info/default.aspxRegards,Tony

Tony Luckhurst ● 4443d

Draft permission HAS been granted for a 60 room hotel on the site - providing the developers meet certain conditions - which have to be approved before they can begin work. But we should still be able to buy our pigs' trotters and daffs as the traders should not be affected too much - as Eric said previously

Viv Ellis ● 4443d

This is not good. Who do I write to in the council to help stop this. The flower staff has been there forever.Sixteen-cats Peter

Peter Cumberpatch ● 4484d

Thank you Eric - excellent news for four local businesses.

Nigel Brooks ● 4484d

Good news.As you say though - it depends upon the council continuing to grant annual licenses.It wouldn't be the first time that the authorities have appeared to give with one hand only to take away with the other when it suits them later.

Tony Colliver ● 4484d

To bring this thread up to date. The flower seller and the site owner/hotel developer have reached an accommodation for the continuance of the flower business - which both parties are happy with. This also apparently applies to the other two street traders at the northern end of Melbourne Avenue. I'm sure we are all correctly assuming that Ealing Council will continue to grant annual trading licenses to all three traders. Also Luckhurst's the butchers has also reached an agreement with the site owner which will mean his business will continue on the site if and when the new hotel is built.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4484d

Don't be silly James - that would be far too sensible.(Besdies, the planners are not authorised to think. I believe a small part of their brain is removed upon starting work for the council.)

Tony Colliver ● 4532d

Nice work Arthur :).Am I missing something, with very little re-design would it not be possible to accommodate both a hotel and keeping the stall in situ?

James Brown ● 4532d

The Prince of Darkness the Ealing website rejected my submission. On the grounds that I pressed the opposition button? Will try again but life is short. I'm 66.

Arthur Breens ● 4532d

This little area is at the heart of West Ealing. Surely it has to be treated by the council more sensitively than this. Our planners and our council will have let us down badly if this goes ahead without debate. Last Monday's West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum meeting began this debate. Right now the planners should engage with the people in an informal way to tell us why this is such a good thing and why they back it. Same for the hotel backers. Established residents and businesses should have some say on what happens. Now off to the dark recesses of the Council website to make my points. Well done Viv and Thank You.

Arthur Breens ● 4532d

An excellent article by V Ellis.

Gerry Tan ● 4533d

A well-written article on the front page now.Nice job Viv.

Nigel Brooks ● 4533d

I have also replied but we all know what consultation means in Ealing!! Funny how the Council complain about residents views not being taken into account in the NHS but will our views be taken into accopunt on this.

Peter Chadburn ● 4533d

the traders have a petition on the go plus people can comment / object on the councll's planning bit on the website the reference is PP2012/5230if i have done it right here's the linkhttp://www.pam.ealing.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet

Viv Ellis ● 4533d

Until very recently the only hotel up or down the Uxbridge Road for miles was the one on the north eastern corner of Ealing Common.Some extra hotel accomodation is well overdue in my view - though not at the expense of longstanding flower traders.

Tony Colliver ● 4534d

I've put some information about West Ealing Neighbours' questions about the planned hotel and the flower stallholder's petition on the WEN blog - http://www.westealingneighbours.org.uk/WEN-blog/

David Highton ● 4535d

I've never used this trader but agree that it would be sad to see this business go.Is there really a demand for a hotel in West Ealing however ?

Bud Richards ● 4535d

The flower sellers street trading business has been operating there for 40 years. The card stall has been a feature there for 12 years. Ealing Council never informed them of the impending hotel development even though as licensed traders the Council has their addresses!You can find some more info on the plans at www.westealingneighbours.org.ukYou can formally comment on this application at Planning on the Council's web site - www.ealing.gov.uk The Planning Application reference number is PP/2012/5230 You must do this before 22 February 2013.

Eric Alan Leach ● 4536d

When my late girlfriend went shopping in West Ealing often the guy from the stall used to help her carry things to her car. A part of what makes West Ealing a good place to be. I used to get her flowers regularly from there and now i still get them when i got out to the crematorium gardens. It would be a great shame to lose the stall.

Peter Chadburn ● 4536d

Have you got details of petition that has already been set up?

Grainne Taylor ● 4536d

Has anyone thought to put a e petition on the council's web and then drummer up support among friends and relatives?

Rosa Popham ● 4536d

We buy flowers there - good value and always fresh. Let's try to help this local independant trader we'll sign his petition or whatever.

Gerry Tan ● 4536d

That's awful. Can they do that? The flower place has been on that corner for years and it always looks lovely in a particularly uninspiring spot, it would be such a shame to lose it. I travel from Acton to get flowers there both for myself and various school presentations. The  flowers are beautiful and great value for money. It seems very unfair to force out an established and valuable trader just like that. Where will they go if they have to move? Have they been offered an alternative spot? The kids are on half term but I'll try and make it down there to sign.

Milena Vincic ● 4536d