Bell went on to say “I would like to hold a meeting that brings together community leaders, business leaders, faith leaders and the council so we can develop a strategy for the next three or four years. No one group can tackle this alone and expect to be successful. It’s only by working together that we would make any sort of impact.”

Although we do not have any details yet, our sources tell us that a public meeting has been set up to take place at the Dominion Centre, Southall on 10 March 2011 where Mr Bell and Chief Superintendent Andy Rowell are billed to address the audience.

Let’s hope that this is the start of something positive for Southall, and does not just turn into just another talking shop.

It might just be worthwhile keeping an eye on this…

If you wish to take part in the consultation please send your response / comments to the questions below to Peter Sadler PC 654Xb, Norwood Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team, Unit 4, The Arches Business Centre, Merrick Road, Southall, UB2 4AU, or email to Pete.Sadler@met.pnn.police.uk or to Ian.Jenkins@met.police.uk

Comments must be received by Monday, 5th July 2010.

[A] Do you have any comments and views about the provision of Safer Neighbourhoods bases?

[B] Is the current SN base in the Arches meeting the community needs? (if yes/no please say why)

[C] Do you have any comments about the sale of Norwood Green Police Station?

[D] If the sale of the Police Station in Norwood Green meant that the proceeds could be used to improve local police buildings, would this change your view?

[E] Do you have any comments about the provision of a Patrol Base in the borough?

[F] Do you agree with the splitting of front counter facilities to provide dedicated space for reception, enforcement and victim-focused functions?

[G] Do you agree with the grouping of command, management and support functions into a single office building in the borough?

[H] Do you have any comments about the future of Ealing, Hanwell, Norwood Green and Greenford police stations, bearing in mind the re-provision of services elsewhere?

Minutes of previous Ward Forum Meetings can be viewed here

All elected councillors in Southall are Labour Party candidates, and overall Ealing now has a Labour majority of 11 seats.

Despite hailing from different backgrounds, the ordinary hard-working family people of Southall generally all live and work together in harmony with very little help from the local council. Over the years, under both the Labour and Conservative administration, Ealing council has systematically ignored the needs of the town whilst using the town as a ‘dumping’ ground for increasing numbers of immigrants. Southall councillors have also failed to make any effective representation on resident’s behalf either through lack of ability or because they got elected for the wrong reasons (promotion of self-interests is cited by many).

As a result of the failure of Southall councillors, council officers have long been accustomed to the idea of marginalising Southall and of treating Southall residents as buffoons. There is no shortage of cases that can be quoted where it has taken numerous letters, emails, and even petitions to get officers to respond to quite legitimate complaints by the people of Southall. Go and speak to activists in the Southall Green ward and they will tell you of the many documented cases where they have had to expend an inordinate amount of time to get the very simplest of issues resolved.

Whilst David Cameron talks of a “Broken Britain” here in Ealing mind games are played by our politicians in trying to score points at the expense of the local community, leading to a ‘Broken Southall’, so much so that the town, or at least this ward is now on the brink of breakdown.

Promoting Gambling and Betting Shops
Southall Green ward already has a heavy concentration gambling shops within yards of schools and places of worship. In the evenings women and children no longer feel safe to walk on the streets of this densely overcrowded ward. Such is the fear that family members have to collect their wives and daughters from the railway station in the evenings.

In recent months the council has granted at least two new betting licences in Southall Green ward, despite fierce opposition by the local community. Local people feel badly let down by their councillors, Southall Regeneration, and ‘Safer Communities’. These different departments were either unable or unwilling to stop the continued degeneration of Southall, and took no interest in taking preventative measures with reference to increasing crime and anti-social behaviour resulting from the proliferation of betting shops; even a petition of over 350 signatures opposing the new gambling shops fell on deaf ears.

Successive administrations of Ealing Council have taken the stance that, never mind, let’s continue to encourage the residents and children in this ward to gamble, drink, and take drugs. After all, Southall people can always visit one of the numerous places of worship to absolve their sins, or to partake in ‘langar’ (free food) if they are unlucky enough to make a loss at the bookies.

Sharma, MP for Southall has shown zero interest in representing residents on this issue. And the current state of affairs is a sad reflection of the inability of Southall councillors to unite to fight for a common cause. Tribal politics and fighting for their own patch (if indeed they are capable of fighting) seems to be their style.

Turning a Blind Eye to Drug Dealing and Drug-Related Crime
It may sound like the stuff of fiction, but several years ago when the Southall Green Focus Group raised the issue of drugs misuse, drug trafficking and drug-related crime on The Green, Southall politicians, community leaders, council officers and even the Police all colluded in denying that such a problem existed. It took the shooting on The Green in June 2007 for the authorities to acknowledge that there was indeed a problem. At that time Charles Ghillican (then chair of ECPCG) made a public statement saying “I have reliable sources who tell me that 20 years ago Southall was the cheapest place in England to buy heroin. 20 years on and this hasn’t changed”. At the same meeting he went on to criticise the traffic congestion during Diwali and Eid, two festivals that inject enormous wealth to the local economy. None of the Southall councillors present at that meeting challenged Mr Ghillican on his stance.

It is common knowledge that the vast majority of burglaries are committed by people who are desperate to feed their drug habit. Southall is a haven for these people – ask any young people (including school children) in Southall and they will be able to put you in touch with dealers within yards of where you are standing. The problem has escalated to such an extent that now Friday evenings and the weekends are far more lucrative for drug dealers than for the ordinary businesses in Southall. People travel long distances to buy drugs in Southall at cheap prices, no wonder Southall is branded as the ‘Tesco for Drugs’.

This long-standing and growing problem of drug misuse and drug-related crime has plagued Southall for years, but Southall community leaders and politicians have failed miserably to bring up, let alone address this grave issue. No elected representative has ever asked the question that why does Ealing not have a dedicated drug squad (as do Haringey and Hammersmith)? This long-standing problem of drugs has been at the heart of the continued decline of Southall, attacking the very fabric of society, culture and family values

It is scandalous that much of the drug-related crime and anti-social behaviour has been’ tolerated’ for so long; it is time that our councillors recognise the seriousness of this problem and put pressure on the Borough Commander on this matter. We must ensure that the sufficient resources are allocated to tackling drug crime and campaign to have a permanent drug squad to be based in Ealing. When Sharma comes knocking at your door (with or without his Dhol players) ask him what he has done to address the issue of drug-related crime. If you still have the energy you might also like pose the same question to Gurcharan. Or we could save you the trouble and tell you that as far as we are aware they have done bugger all.

This article was submitted by members of the Southall Green Focus group

Read more at Ealing Hospital Save Our Services campaign and at Ealing Hospital campaigners launch newsletter. Sign a petition against the cuts here.

Links
People power needed to save Ealing Hospital

“….In the last couple of weeks I have green lighted – in spite of the fiercest opposition from local people…never mind [great laughter and amusement] – I have nodded through an enormous mixed use development… [Southall Gasworks]”

On his twitter site Sharma claims that he had attended the hearing at City Hall on 25th March, but none of those who attended remember seeing him that evening. Both Sharma and Gurcharan met up with the campaigners at Park Avenue Gurudwara, but soon left. What is certain is that neither Sharma nor Gurcharan spoke at the hearing.

Although Stacey has made a number of sound bites in a bid to hoodwink the people of Southall, there can be little doubt that Ealing Council has not put up a fight on behalf of Southall residents, and may even have secretly been in favour of the plans all along. David Hill writes on his Guardian Blog that

At the hearing at City Hall Ealing’s Head of Planning Aileen Jones said she had discussed the revisions to the scheme with the Planning committee chair and that she was confident the reason for refusal had been “sufficiently addressed”

Save Our Southall has written to Stacey complaining that Ealing  had made it far easier for the Mayor to agree the application and justify his trampling on local democracy by Aileen Jones’s statement on behalf of the Council.

It has also come to light that on the day of the hearing, in a bid to sabotage the campaign, somebody phoned the Coach Driver and gave false information by asking him to come one hour later than had been arranged. Despite this the campaigners did not lose their resolve and managed to be at the hearing on time.

It is a bitter pill to swallow, but the reality is that Southall ‘leaders’ and politicians such as Stacey, Sharma and Gurcharan are only too happy to attend photo shoots, give sound bites, and generally blow their own trumpet on websites such as facebook and Twitter, whilst offering little or no real support for the people of Southall.

Last night, Thursday 25th March 2010, the Mayor of London betrayed the Southall community. Boris Johnson used his powers to overturn the decision of our community rejecting the plans to build 3,750 homes on the Southall Gas Works site.

The entire community was against this dangerous development posing serious health hazards for the community and subjecting our lives to frustrations of horrendous traffic congestion. He used the argument that the plans would have a minimal affect on the quality of life of our community and sugar coated the proposals as being “beneficial” to the community. The Mayor and some council representatives were happy at money being provided by National Grid, the developers, as horse trading. National Grid was joyful at the decision of the Mayor showing his loyalty to protecting commercial interests of private concerns.

Taranjit Chana, from Save Our Southall, Joe Sidhu, governor of Beaconsfield Primary School, Salvinder Dhillon from Indian Welfare Association and founder of Save Our Southall, Councillor Zahida Abbas Noori , Chris Murell from the Southall Water Tower along with community representatives from Hayes, Hillingdon and Ealing spoke forcefully and passionately against the Gas Works development. The meeting was well attended by campaigners and their supporters.

The Mayor was told that the decision of the Mayor was a betrayal of our community and our community was repeatedly a victim of sham consultations and democracy. All along their opinions have been ignored and wishes neglected. Moreover report on which the Mayor formed his decision was inaccurate. He was asked to take part in a public debate involving local campaign groups along with community leaders and attended by the community. The Mayor can approve the plans if he has a majority. Otherwise he must scrap them. The Mayor showed no interest in democracy involving the community. Instead he used his powers to please the developers and sell out the community.

Since becoming Mayor, what has Boris done to alleviate the problems faced by the people of Southall? Problems that include widespread drug dealing and drug related crime, a large population of unemployed, homeless young people, under-resourced policing to deal with drug trafficking, proliferation of Betting shops, over-congestion and traffic to name a few.

The Conservative led Ealing council, whilst rejecting the plans last year, has done very little to put pressure on Boris not to approve the plans. This saga is yet another testament to Ealing council’s ambivalence on matters pertaining to Southall. Phil Taylor, the Conservative councillor for Northfield ward had this to say on his website in December last year

“In many ways this is a very exciting project. It puts 3,750 homes on derelict land right on top of Southall station which will become a Crossrail station. Obviously people worry that an already busy area will become way too crowded.”

This sums up rather well the real position of Ealing council on this matter. No wonder the council failed to put up a fight to prevent Boris overturning their decision. Let’s wait and see how Ealing council reacts to this latest undemocratic imposition by the Mayor of London; no doubt the people of Southall still have the will to continue the fight based on planning, congestion, traffic and environmental issues.

Links
Mayor gives Southall regeneration scheme the green light
Mayor overrules councils to back Southall scheme
Representation Hearing – Southall Gas Works Site (West Southall)
Boris gives go-ahead to controversial Southall Gas Works plans
Boris Johnson gives go ahead to Southall Gas Works plans
Boris Johnson rules in favour of Southall Gas works ‘mini-town’
Boris Johnson: Ealing Council hits back
Tory Localism In Action

These plans have been opposed by all the Southall councillors, the Southall community, both local MP’s, Hillingdon Council and even the GLA Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes. The Mayor has taken the shocking decision to override this democratic process and may be looking to impose this horrendous development on the Southall Community.

The Mayor will be considering the planning application at a hearing in London. It is vital that as many as possible people from Southall attend this hearing and let the Mayor know that he cannot just ignore local democracy and ride roughshod over the people of Southall. Let us make it known loud and clear that approval of the application will lead to massive protests.

The date of the hearing is Thursday 25 March 2010, 6.00pm. Please assemble at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Park Avenue, Southall at 3.30pm. The coach will depart for London at 4pm sharp.

Thanks to Salvinder Dhillon, Indian Welfare Association, Save Our Southall for bringing this to our attention.

Links
Green Party on Southall Gasworks Proposal
Mayor of London ‘calls in’ Hayes and Southall development plans
Delight as Southall gasworks plan rejected Southall gasworks plan is ‘pulled’ from agenda
Ealing Southall Gasworks Video

Anybody who thinks otherwise may be well advised to reflect on the calibre and achievements of the councillors elected to represent Southall.  Surely it is not unreasonable to expect that our councillors are able to read, write and speak English to a good level, and to be proficient in the use of Information Technology?  Most sane people would consider this to be a minimum requirement for anybody considering standing for election as a councillor.  Sadly, the reality for Southall is disappointing and frankly rather disturbing.  Whilst Southall has a handful of councillors who are extremely able and effective in working for their wards, the majority are woefully ill-equipped for such an office, and if truth be told, are often a laughing stock at council meetings.  No wonder Southall is treated as a second class ghetto within Ealing.

What is even more sinister is that this sorry state of affairs is perpetuated by both the Labour and the Conservative parties.  Try asking them why they do not have any standards or selection criteria to ensure that prospective candidates standing under their banner are suitably qualified and keen to serve the people who might elect them into office.  You might as well be hitting your head against a brick wall.  It is entirely conceivable that if the Labour or Conservative had their way they would be prepared to select a monkey to stand in Southall if they thought the people would vote for him.  ‘Dirty politics’ may be an apt phrase to describe the workings of local politics within Ealing’s political parties – the will to power is far greater than the will to serve.

Given the failure of the local political parties to represent the interests of Southall, the only hope would seem to lie in electing dedicated independent candidates who are willing and able to work for this part of the borough. This unfortunately is an uphill struggle, as the people of Southall tend to vote like sheep.  Let’s hope that with the changing complexion of the population of Southall the situation might change for the better.

Minutes of previous Ward Forum Meetings can be viewed here

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
• Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling

The Gambling Act specifies three categories of licenses that may be issued – Operating, Personal, and Premises.  The former two are issued by the Gambling Commission whilst the Premises license is issued by Local Authorities.  Under the Act, licensing authorities are required to prepare and publish a Statement of Principles which sets out the policies that the licensing authority will generally apply to promote the Licensing Objectives when making decisions on applications made under the Act.

Local authorities are required to establish a licensing committee made up of local councillors in order to carry out their functions. This is supposed to give local residents a greater say and promote democratic accountability about gambling within communities.

When an application for a premises licence is made, external parties, such as residents, the police or environmental health, may make representations about the application. The licensing authority can consider all relevant representations and other factors, at a hearing before making its final decision.  However, unlike the Licensing Act, the licensing authority itself can challenge an application as one of several organisations designated as “responsible authorities”.

In making its decision on an application, licensing authorities can impose flexible sanctions such as restricting hours of operation, requiring extra staff and limiting gaming machines to ensure that the specific issues or concerns of their community are adequately provided for.

The Act also makes it possible for licensing authorities to act in the interests of local residents. Local residents or responsible authorities can seek a review of a licence for any particular premises.

The question that many are asking is how active Southall’s Councillors are (and have been) in making representation on behalf of residents in relation to applications for gambling licenses.  It comes as no great surprise to learn that too many Southall councillors have a distinct lack of interest in such matters, let alone any desire to take any positive action to stop the continuing decay of Southall.

Sadly Sharma, the Ealing Southall MP, appears to share a similar ambivalence on the issue of Southall being in pole position to become West London’s gambling hub.  Yet Sharma continues to clutch on to his job of councillor, whilst only paying lip service to his duties as a councillor. According to figures published on Ealing’s website, Sharma has the lowest attendance record of Council meetings – he has only attended 33% meetings he was scheduled to attend during 2008.09.

Gambling Commission
Ealing’s policy Statement For Gambling
View current Licence applications at Ealing

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

Judging by its record, it is questionable whether Ealing council will give any consideration to the damaging impact of this bio-fuel Power Station on air pollution, traffic, the environment, world hunger and human rights abuses. Be under no illusion, the primary motive behind council decisions when it comes to Southall is revenue-generation, and not resident’s well-being (as it would have you believe).

The decision on the planning application, filed by Blue NG, is expected to be made by the council in a meeting set for 22nd July 2009.

Let’s shake off the lethargy, and speak up against the continuing assault by Ealing on the quality of our environment and on the people of Southall! Please contact your local councillors and ask them to object to the proposal.

Click here for further information and suggested objection letter

Read ‘Steamed up by power station’ article from Ealing Gazette here

Planning application details on Ealing website here and here

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

Contact Ben Fenton on
07920 230970
ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk
Click here for location map

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

On behalf of the Council I would like to say sorry and offer our unreserved apologies. We will be refunding everyone ticketed at the affected yellow box junctions since 20 June.

The decision was made after an email sent by the Department for Transport on 20 June, was brought to my attention today.

At the beginning of November we immediately suspended the junctions following advice from the Department for Transport. I believed that this was the first time the Council had been given this advice or the decision to stop enforcing them would have taken in June.

I am furious that this email was never brought to my attention and I have ordered an immediate investigation on how this could have happened.

The Council is putting in place arrangements to refund the money.

The six box junctions affected are double width yellow boxes at T-Junctions:

• South Road junction St Joseph’s Drive, Southall
• South Road junction Cambridge Road,Southall
• South Road junction Hamilton Road,Southall
• High Street junction Avenue Road, Southall
• Uxbridge Road junction Lower Boston Road, Hanwell
• The Broadway junction The Mall, Ealing

The local papers have taken up the story here and here.

Ealing Gazette reports that the Council estimates it will have to refund £660,000 to drivers charged between late June and late October, when the council formally announced it was scrapping the junctions.

We are all for lawful parking restrictions designed to expedite the flow of traffic and to make the roads safe, but like many other councils, Ealing does not appear to have missed out on the golden opportunity of milking the parking enforcement ‘cash cow’. The introduction of an additional 85 parking enforcement CCTV cameras exposes the council’s highly efficient drive to squeeze even more money out of residents.

If you ask Stacey, he will assure you that “no sir, Parking Services are not incentivised to generate revenue”. Of the 85 new enforcement cameras, 20 will be in Southall, and of the existing 101 enforcement cameras, 20 again are in Southall. Evidently, Ealing council can be highly efficient when it comes to milking a cash cow, while hiding behind high sounding mission statements. When it comes to delivering real and tangible improvements for the people of Southall, words such as “our aim is to become a high performing organisation, focussed on the needs of its communities” with no real action will suffice.

For years residents have been complaining about illegal parking outside the club on The Green in Southall, where people park on pavements, zebra crossings and even local resident’s parking spaces almost every weekend. So what action does Ealing take to address resident’s complaints? Nothing. Yes, nothing, revealing the double standards that Stacey and his cronies practice. If you ask the residents, they will tell you that it is more accurate to say that the aim of Ealing council is “to become a high performing organisation in order to fleece residents to the maximum.”

On the one hand the council is so efficient that it is be able to issue parking tickets by post with lightning speed for the most minor of offences, yet on the other hand it will allow people coming from outside the borough to Southall for entertainment to regularly and openly flout the law. And the council and police will not lift as much as a finger to address the problem. Now that is double standards.

Over 25% of the parking enforcement cameras are in Southall – perhaps this shows how much the council cares for us! Come on you Southall councillors, isn’t it time to stand up for Southall? Sadly, the concept of actively working to improve the quality of life for residents seems alien to many of the Southall councillors. One councillor has been reported as saying that “the only way to educate Southall residents is through the use of parking enforcement.” Sharma, another long standing Southall councillor, is still hanging on on to his position of councillor despite having been elected the MP for Ealing Southall at the recent by-election – he has not even bothered to attend the last four Southall Area Committee meetings (16/5/07, 19/9/07, 27/11/07, 23/1/08).

Click here for a list of existing and planned parking enforcement cameras in Southall.

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.

Examples of contributions range from the provision of affordable homes and new open space to funding of school places or employment training schemes. Developers can be asked to contribute towards the costs of providing community and social infrastructure which arises as a result of a new development taking place.

It should be noted that Section 106 agreements are not to be used as a way for the council to share in the profits from a development or as an inducement offered by a developer to gain planning permission.

A scan of recent council minutes and related documents makes for interesting reading on Ealing councils stance and track record with regard to Section 106 Monies for Southall; at the Southall Area Committee meeting of 27/11/07 Mr Twyman asked if Southall Councillors were consulted about Section 106 spend. The majority replied that they weren’t consulted. At the same meeting Mr Virdee stated that with reference to Section 106 funding, there should be improvements for Southall and that the Framework isn’t tangible or addressing the problems the area faces now.

Here is an extract from the minutes of the Southall Area Committee meeting of 23/02/08:

The Chairman [Councillor Dhindsa] introduced the report and explained that there is £91,200 of money from Section 106 agreements available and outlined the recommended proposals and projects in 2.2, including £40,000 for a Southall Car Park Study, £46,200 for Town Centre Improvements and £5,000 for CPZ and Parking Solutions on Montague Waye. The Chairman went on to express concern that he did no think councillors have been consulted on the £1,659,404 already spent or committed to existing projects.

Questions are also being asked whether £20,000 spent on the ‘Festival Lights’ is effective use of the money or simply a waste. Section 106 money being spent on the Borough Apprenticeship Scheme is also under scrutiny by residents.

It is high time our councillors [Gurcharan Singh (Con), Jagdish Gupta (Con), Jarnail Singh Jandu (Con), Jasbir Anand (Lab), Kamaljit S Dhindsa (Lab), Maninder Kaur Keith (Con), Manjit Singh (Con), Mohammad Aslam (Lab), Rajinder Mann (Lab), Ranjit Dheer (Lab), Swarn Singh Kang (Lab), Tej Ram Bagha (Lab), Tejinder Singh Dhami (Lab), Virendra Sharma (Lab), Zahida Abbas Noori (Lab) ] flexed their elected power to ensure Southall does not continue to be short-changed when it comes to section 106 funding.

Some residents have also expressed a concern that Section 106 monies are being misappropriated, such as the money for Business Incubator Units and the Apprenticeship Scheme. We would argue that it is imperative for the council to be transparent about section 106 monies raised and how it is spent. Click here for the latest summary of section 106 monies for Southall.

At a meeting on 13^th November Cabinet asked council officers to suggest projects to the area committees which would be funded by available section 106 funds. Subsequently, a recent report titled “S106 – update and proposals for the allocation of S106 monies” sets out recommendations for the expenditure of the S106 monies and asks the area committee to comment on these recommendations prior to seeking Cabinet approval for expenditure.

We urge residents to ask their councilors what interest they are taking in this matter, and insist that section 106 money be spent with with care to ensure we can enjoy tangible improvements in our quality of life. We would further urge the council to consult with us the residents, rather than allowing officers to implement proposals dreamt up in isolation.

I suppose the foremost question in people’s minds is why SouthallPride has been inactive for quite some time. Many of you have emailed us with words of support and expressed your desire to see SouthallPride continue with it’s campaign to improve the quality of life for Southall residents.

The fact of the matter is that we have been rather more active at the grassroots level of late, and updating the website has played second fiddle. Coupled with that is the fact that we are a very small team and have to juggle campaign work with the day to day pressures that life throws at us – after all we are not paid council staff or politicians, although sometimes we wish we had their clout and access to resources to get things done! The good news is that we have started working with other individuals and groups in Southall to become more effective in promoting our campaign. It’s certainly feels good to be working with other residents and groups whose goals are similar, and means we are able to support each other and persevere until results are achieved.

As we said, there is much good work being done at the ground level, and we hope to report on some of this in the near future. We would like to say in passing that did you know that each ward has regular ‘Focus Group’ meetings where residents can make their voice heard? Also do not hesitate to let your Safer Neighbourhoods Police team know of any antisocial or illegal activity around your area.

Shake off the lethargy and take the bull by the horns! Would you be happy to live in an area that looked like this?

A crowd of around 40 men were seen fighting outside the nightclub in The Green, Southall, when a gunshot was heard at 3.15am.

Bricks and broken glass were found in the street after a member of public called police – but the fighters had left on foot.

A short while later a 19-year-old presented himself at hospital with a bullet wound in his leg. He is still in hospital in a stable condition.

Detective constable Nick Dunn, investigating, said: “There was a lot of people outside the club when the altercation started and we are keen to speak to anyone in the area who witnessed the fight, or who saw groups of men running away from the area in the early hours of Saturday morning.”

Black-on-black gun crime unit Operation Trident’s non-fatal shooting team are currently investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Incident Room on 020 8733 4774

This report reproduced from Ealing Times, Wednesday 4th July 2007 , by David Doyle

It was encouraging to see such a good turnout, and should send out a strong signal to Ealing council that residents of Southall are ready rise to the challenge of safeguarding vital community services and facilities. Even some Labour councillors, including councillor Sonika Nirwal made the effort to attend.

Click here to listen to a short presentation by Francis Shepherd, whose group use the centre to teach and promote Tabla.

Click here to listen to a short presentation by the East African Senior Citiezens User Group.

Brendan Walsh from Ealing council was also present at the meeting, his contribution can be heard here. Further question can be addressed to him by phoning Ealing council, or by email at WalshB@ealing.gov.uk

Expand post to see more photos.

On 21st Jan 2007 we sent the following email to Ealing Customer Services:

“It has come to our attention that Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London hasdedicated £4.4million to Ealing to be spent on local transport improvements. Could confirm that this is indeed the case, and who we can contact to find out more on how this money is going to be spent.”

The Multimedia Section Team Leader at Ealing Council replied on 25th Jan 2007 as follows:

“I have passed your email on to Mike Donnellan, who will provide further details on your query.”

Having had no response we emailed again on 31st Jan 2007:

“Any chance of a reply from Mike Donnellan?”

We have had no reply to date. We telephoned Mike Donnellan today and left a message. Let’s see what happens.

So much for customer services.

A number of residents have told us that despite repeated complaints Ealing council has taken no action against the owners of a number of properties let out to refugees that are in a state of disrepair, overcrowded, and do not comply with appropriate legislation. You can see for youself in this photo the filthy state of the stairs leading up to the flats.

We also found dangerous light switches with exposed wires as shown on the photo below. Another picture shows the nasty state of one of the windows. What further evidence does the council need?

On request of some residents we have ourselves observed first hand that the people who live in these flats are in the habit of dumping their rubbish on the pavement outside. We are surprised that the so called ‘Wardens’ the council employs have not reported this problem of rubbish dumping.

Make up your own mind wether the council is taking the right measures to reduce congestion in Southall. Click here to find out if your road is included in the list of proposals.

Barrie Sheard, chairman of the National Pest Technician’s Association (NPTA) says we only have ourselves to blame. He said “A lot of piping in modern homes is increasingly becoming plastic and they can get through that no problem.”

Recently, the chief executive the association, John Davison issued this chilling warning: “It’s a grave problem. The way this is growing it is going to give rise to some kind of public health risk.”

One reasons for rodent explosion is that more councils charging for domestic rodent work – Ealing charges £60 for three visits. The problem in Southall is so widespread that it’s hard to envisage how it can be eradicated by one, or even two visits by the council to individual properties. It is high time Ealing council recognised this serious problem and started taking measure that are aimed at dealing with the rat problem, rather than letting residents pay for something which even the Ealing Pest Control officers know is not going to be effective.

And I wonder why the so called Street Wardens in Southall have failed to bring this potentially explosive issue to the notice of Environment Services? Some residents have speculated that the Wardens have been gobbled up by the super rats.

Perhaps the real answer lies in the fact that we are talking about Southall….