CrossRail Proposals for Southall

A meeting has been arranged to discuss CrossRail proposals for Hanwell and Southall stations:

Date: Tuesday, 17th November 2009
Time: 7.00pm
Venue: Ealing Town Hall

Representatives of Crossrail and Network Rail will be present.

Contact Kevin Unwin on 020 8825 6568 or at unwink@ealing.gov.uk if you would like to attend

Southall Canal – Dirty Weekend

Join in and help improve the Grand Union Canal! Take part in the ‘Dirty Weekend’ where there will be lots of free activities for all the family including FREE angling sessions, boat trips, and graffiti removal (Saturday) and litter removal, wild flower planting and habitat regeneration (Sunday).

Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June
10.30am – 4.00pm
Grand Union Canal, parallel to The Common, Southall, UB2.
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

Contact Ben Fenton on 07920 230970 / ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk

All Equipment Provided. Click here for location map

Public Consultation Evening

Recently appointed Inspector Rob Bryan (Southall Police) informs us that a Southall Week of Action has been arranged, below are the details:

Southall Police, in partnership with London Borough of Ealing council will be undertaking a Week of Action between 20 – 26 June.

Our resources will be centred on Southall to make this town a better place for you all to live or work in. There will be a number of community days, including football matches for young people and a fun day. We will undertake crime prevention initiative and clean up events.

We also want to make Southall a safer place. I want my officers to target violent criminals who live or offend here. Other offenders will also be targeted, whether in vehicles, on foot or on pushbikes. I want you to see that we protect the law abiding amongst you, but we will not tolerate lawlessness of any sort in Southall.

This is where I need your help. It is not enough for the police and council to plan these events and hope you all approve. We need you to be with us, making suggestions and agreeing our tactics. Therefore I invite you to attend the Dominion Arts Education Centre on Wednesday 27 May 2009 at 7pm.

Representatives from the police and council will be there to explain what resources we have available and how we hope to use them. Please come and speak up and help shape this event.

If you cannot attend the consultation evening, please contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team with any thoughts you may have. Alternatively, call me direct on 020 8721 2907 or via e-mail at rob.bryan@met.pnn.police.uk

SOUTHALL WEEK OF ACTION – PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENING
Wednesday 27 May 7pm-9pm
The Dominion Arts Education Centre, 112 The Green, Southall

Last Rounds at Norwood Green Police Station?

According to the ‘Asset Management Plan’ report published by the Metropolitan Police in November 2007, police buildings have to be modernised to provide a more accessible, flexible and effective police service. The report claims that proposed changes to police buildings will improve policing by increasing public accessibility, maximising the use of space, providing a modern environment for flexible working, providing a more pleasant environment for the public. It also seeks to encourage more effective joint working through co-location with other agencies such as libraries and leisure centres.

The Property Strategy report by Ealing Council (Oct 2006), on the other hand is more forthright when it states

The police operate from former houses in Hanwell and Norwood Green and more suitable premises are sought in both areas for neighbourhood policing.

The Norwood Green Police Station, a locally listed building, was built in 1889 on the site of the old Manor Farm, and was bequeathed to the police force, on the condition that it should always remain as a Police Station and not be sold off. But all indications are that Norwood Green Police station is in line for the hatchet. It would be interesting to learn how the Metropolitan Police have managed to circumvent this original condition that the building was to always remain with the police force.

We are of the opinion that public bodies such as the Metropolitan police have a moral responsibility to asses the impact of their actions in the longer term, and not just in terms of financial efficiency. The scope of the assesement has to be wider, and include effects such as the potential impact on the quality of life of local residents. While a review of assets and financing to improve service efficiency is a good thing, we hope the pressure to save money is not the overriding factor. If put up for sale, it is likely that the building would be acquired by a property developer to build flats. In response to residents concerns about the possible sale of Norwood Green Police station, Ian Jenkins from the Metropolitan Police has said that

“Norwood Green is highlighted as a premises we would consider moving from once, and if a suitable viable alternative is found which affords accessibility, visibility and improves policing for the community and the Safer Neighbourhood Teams. This proposal could take place, with or without the sale of Norwood Green Police Station”

The West London Neighbourhood Group have also written a response to the Police Estate Management Plan for Ealing which can be read here. Two articles published by Ealing Times can be read here and here. It is imperetive that the Metropolital Police share their vision of alternative policing provision before any moves to sell of Norwood Green Police Station are taken.

 

You can email comments to Ealing police at ian.jenkins@met.police.uk or post them to Ealing Police Station, 67-69 Uxbridge Road, Ealing or by phone on 0208 246 9472.

Residents Propel Ealing Council into Action

In a recent post we reported how Ealing council was failing it’s residents in providing basic information and services. We are happy to report after further pressure from us and the residents, the vehicle in question was removed at long last after being abandoned for over 3 months. The moral – it pays to persevere!