Issue no 68: Ealing Rocks!

Neighbours’ Paper

Issue No 68 Putting the people of Ealing first Spring 2014

www.neighbourspaper.comActon | Ealing | Greenford | Hanwell | Northolt | Perivale | Southall

Ealing Rocks!

FREE

2 Putting the People of Ealing First

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Editor: Tom Whiting (020 8840 5740)

Treasurer: Judy Breens

Cover Photo: Ealing Club Exhibition 2014. Photo: Lucy Greyshon

Writers: Arnold Aarons, Jamie Anson, Arthur Breens, Judy Breens, Foluso Dawodu, Will French, Michael Holmes, Eric Leach, Tom Whiting, Alistair Young

Designer: Jamie AnsonWebmaster: Sonia Nimley

Advert Designer: Sandy Anson

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This edition includes a look at Ealing’s Rhythm & Blues heritage. Sadly this is not as well known as our film heritage. Visit Britain recently stated that the UK’s music tourism is worth £2.2 billion yearly and London attracts 28% of it. Isn’t it time our Council promoted our music, film and other heritage assets? Where is the Ealing Tourist Office? With a bit more flair we could easily fill all these newly built Ealing hotels! Get involved with Neighbourhood Planning (page 5) and make the suggestion! We take another look at the station saga (page 6). At last the Council has promised to review the design. The valuable work of the charity Home-Start, that offers one-to-one support for families of young children, is explained on page 9. This complements the Council’s many Children’s Centres throughout the Borough. NP applauds the Council that despite much financial pressure, it has kept open not only all libraries but also all these centres that provide child health clinics, advice and toddler groups. You can find more at: www.ealing.gov.uk/children

Contents Editorial................................................ 2

Please Vote! ........................................ 2

The Cradle of British Rock Music ....... 3

Ealing Notes ........................................ 4

YOU Plan Your Neighbourhood ........ 5

Cross Rail: What does it mean for Ealing ..........................................6-7 Start a Business in Ealing .................... 8

Help for Ealing Families ..................... 9

Ealing Liberal Synagogue ............... 10

Road Safety in Ealing ....................... 11

Nigerian Alumni Visit ........................ 11

Action Netball .................................. 12

PLEASE VOTE ON 22 MAY!There are two elections on 22 May. One is to elect Councillors for Ealing Council. The other is to elect Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). It has become fashionable to scorn all politicians and not bother. Neighbours Paper urges all readers to vote! We are a non-party political paper but we are very interested in our local politics! We all pay Council tax. We all pay income and other taxes. These pay for Europe, our nation, and our borough’s common services! We may not agree with current policies, so now is the time to check up on our politicians and decide.

Electoral voting rights were hard won! Whatever way you vote, PLEASE VOTE!

No doubt you will receive leaflets through your door in May but you

may like to check the different Party websites. Remember that in some Ealing wards there may also be independent (non-Party) Councillor Candidates.

Here are the main local party websites (in alphabetical order)www.ealingactonconservatives.org.ukwww.ealing.greenparty.org.ukwww.ealinglabour.comwww.ealinglibdems.org.uk

URGENT: You must be on the electoral roll to vote. If you are not, you must register by 6 May. You can register if you are over 18 and are a UK, Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with leave to remain in the UK. To obtain the registration form, phone 8825-7777 or e-mail [email protected]. All details are also on www.ealing.gov.uk.

Editorial

NP Editorial Team

3Putting the People of Ealing First

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Most residents understand Ealing’s film heritage thanks to Ealing Studios, but did you know that Ealing has been cited as ‘The Cradle of British Rock Music’?

Opposite Ealing Broadway Station and next to Haart Estate Agent is a modest building with a blue plaque now called the Red Room. Back in the early 1960s, Ealing boasted a vibrant live music scene in pubs and larger venues such as Ealing Town Hall. However, it was this small basement bar that became a haven for young teenagers, desperate to discover a new soundtrack for their generation.

The Ealing ‘Blues’ Club In March 1962, Britain’s first ‘rhythm and blues’ band was advertised in the music press, with ‘electric blues guitar, pounding drums, screaming vocals and a bit of harmonica’ as key features. In the Ealing Club, Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated provided an opportunity for those interested in ‘the blues’ to gather and create an environment for musicians seeking to ‘play the blues with electric guitars’. From here, The Rolling Stones were formed and the club hosted musicians that would become part of famous bands such as Cream, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Manfred Mann, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Deep Purple.

Marshall AmplificationIt is no coincidence that just 1.5 miles from the Ealing Club, one of the most iconic brands in rock music flourished. A small music shop in Hanwell run by Jim Marshall would become a meeting place for young musicians seeking out new tones and sounds for their music.

By catering for the demands of guitarists such as Pete Townshend and John Entwhistle of The Who, Jim Marshall & son would grow into Marshall Amplification, a guitar speaker brand that has become synonymous with the sound of rock music.

Close to the original premises (now Tony’s Hairdresser) music and guitar shops can still be found in Hanwell, along with numerous venues that still host live music.

The 21st Century The Ealing Club Community Interest Company (CIC) is a social enterprise seeking to raise awareness of West London’s music heritage while inspiring new opportunities for live music, film and exhibitions.

The group believes that just as Liverpool celebrates its links with the Beatles and has the legendary Cavern Club, Ealing should promote and celebrate our own legacy. This could help re-vitalise and enrich our town by attracting visitors from all over the world.

Blue PlaquesThe Ealing Club CIC created fundraising concerts using the original venue to fund the Blue Plaque event attended by Charlie Watts (Rolling Stones drummer) in March 2012. A second plaque was unveiled in April 2013 to mark the beginnings of Marshall Amplification in Hanwell.

Through celebrating our heritage new live music events have emerged at the annual Valentine Festival (February) Hanwell Hootie (April) Ealing Summer

Festival (July) and the Soundbite Festival (September).

Help us and get involved! Support events via www.ealing-club.com, www.facebook.com/ealingclub and www.twitter.com/ealingclub. Find out about the film Suburban Steps To Rockland – the story of the Ealing Club and live music events at The Hanwell Hootie (5 April 2014).

For exhibitions and the film, Ealing Club CIC is appealing for old photographs of Ealing Borough that portray the youth and fashion of the early 1960’s. If you can help please contact through www.ealing-club.com or phone Alistair at 07927 965797

By AlistAir young, the eAling CluB CiC seCretAry

The Cradle of British Rock Music


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Ealing Notes: The Spring GREEN Edition

Warren Farm is a 61-acre public sports field, part of Brent River Park Community Open Space and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) Yet our Council signed a development agreement on 20 December 2013 with Queens Park Rangers Football Club. In return for creating community football and cricket pitches and upgrading the current changing rooms on one third of the land, QPR can develop two-thirds of the land as a training and Academy HQ for their Club. All the land would be fenced off, access to the QPR site prohibited and the community part controlled by QPR. Astonishingly no money was paid and a rent-free lease given for 200 years. The Council valued the land at around £2 million. Most estimate this is about 7% of its true value.

Not surprisingly Ealing residents are horrified. There is a protest movement supported by opposition parties, Resident Associations, Ealing Civic Society, Brent River Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. There seems no logical reason for this act of theft from Ealing citizens. There are other possibilities to revive this site. The Council could easily gain grant funding to upgrade the dilapidated buildings. Malcolm Weller (Chair of Save Warren Farm) says that after saving the site ‘We plan to start a ‘Community Takeover Bid’ so that the local community can shape the future of our asset for us’.

The latest news is that the Campaigners have lodged papers at the High Court of Justice to Judicially Review the decision. They allege the decision is unlawful on several grounds, including the enclosure of Metropolitan Open Land and concerns on the impartiality of councillors handling both the decision to grant the rent-free lease and the planning permission. For more information, to sign the petition, subscribe to the campaign, see the ‘alternative visions for the site’ please see www.savewarrenfarm.com.

West Ealing: Discover Radbourne Walk

Did you know that behind the Northfield Avenue allotments is a historic path from Occupation Lane to Mattock Lane? Forgotten for many years the tarmac has now become mud covered and the verges overgrown. Ealing Dean Allotment Society plan to restore it to a sound pathway, introduce native wild flowers to the verges and install insect and bees wintering sites. There are volunteer work parties engaged over the coming months. Discover it and get involved! Google: Ealing Dean Allotment Society for history, information and work party dates.

Central Ealing: Walpole ParkYou may be concerned that much of Walpole Park is still a building site with limited visitor access. A manager from the site team spoke at a recent Walpole Ward Forum. It’s hard to believe but the good news is that the park will be finished by June and ready for the July Ealing Festival which will be held in the park as usual.

Perivale WoodSunday 27 April 2014 - Come to the Annual Open Day! Only open once a year, this is your chance to see Ealing’s spectacular bluebell wood. Open from 10.00am to 4.30pm with a nature trail, sale of preserves, books, plants, refreshments. Entrance between 36 and 38 Sunley Gardens, Perivale. Near Perivale Station. Free Entrance. All are welcome. More information from Rae Hall (020 8578 3181) and www.selbornesociety.org.uk.

By Judy Breens

Photo: AlAn outten

Hanwell: Theft of Warren Farm

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Planning is about maintaining or enhancing everybody’s quality of life. We all need a set of local services that can be provided by government, businesses, charities, faith organisations and volunteer groups. Each of these organisations needs a physical presence and this involves land use. In urban areas – like Ealing – much of the land is already built upon. How existing and new buildings are used is subject to a set of planning laws and the Local Planning Authority (in our case Ealing Council) approves or rejects changes of land use.

Localism Act 2012

In recent years, both the Labour and Coalition governments have researched and championed ways for those people who live and work in a neighbourhood to have a big say in how land is used in that neighbourhood. These aspirations became enshrined in the 2011 Localism Act, implemented in April 2012. This Act empowers those who live and work in an area to form a Neighbourhood Forum and to create a Neighbourhood Plan. There is an emphasis on growth and development

in the Act. So-called ‘Volunteer Neighbourhood Planners’ are now springing up all over England, and there are now almost 900 Neighbourhood Forums, 74 of these being in London. Neighbourhood planning is the fastest growing sector of planning in England.

In Ealing We have two trailblazing Neighbourhood Forums. They are the West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum (WECNF) and the Central Ealing Neighbourhood Forum (CENF). These are both Business Neighbourhood Forums and were designated by government in March 2013. Both Neighbourhood Areas include businesses and homes. For example, the WECNF area comprises 352 businesses and 3,478 homes. WECNF and CENF spent much of 2013 discovering what the residents and traders in their neighbourhoods wanted in terms of development. WECNF wrote and performed a play called ‘The Green Man’ which was loosely based upon the history of West Ealing centre. We did this to get people thinking about their neighbourhood: 170 local stakeholders

attended the three performances of the play and currently 196 of them and others have submitted written feedback on future land use in the neighbourhood. CENF had a large, successful launch meeting and now has a membership of 300. Both Forums will produce draft Neighbourhood Plans this year which should become the legal plans for their neighbourhoods in 2015.

You can attend Ealing’s neighbourhood planning FREE conference called ‘Neighbourhood Planning in London’ at Ealing Town Hall on Wednesday 28 May 2014 sponsored by WECNF, CENF, Ealing Council and National Government (Department for Communities and Local Government). This will be great opportunity for beginners and existing volunteers to learn more. Register to attend at www.wecnf.org. See www.improvealing.com for information on CENF.

If you live, work or have an interest in either of these areas please join your Forum and help create YOUR Neighbourhood Plan. We need you!

YOU Plan Your Neighbourhoodby Eric Leach, Chair, WECNF

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Crossrail: what will it mean for Ealing?

any of the four stations. To find out what may happen, the best starting point has to be a review carried out by the Council’s all-party Crossrail Specialist Scrutiny Panel back in 2010. Their report summed up the issues very well, but it’s been left to gather dust and local groups are growing frustrated that there’s been no action since. So I’m adding here some of their main ideas.

A recent campaign led by eminent architect Lord Richard Rogers has generated a lot of anger, that compared with central London all five Ealing stations are being poorly designed. Rogers has triggered a new debate late in the day, but things may change significantly in the months ahead.

In the previous issue of Neighbours Paper I described Crossrail’s rotten plans for Ealing Broadway station. My article helped spark the Council into appointing a firm of international architects to review the designs. This was a big step forward. Until then, the Council seemed prepared to accept the designs Crossrail were putting to them.

This time, I want to look at the four other Crossrail stations in the borough – Acton Main Line, West Ealing, Hanwell and Southall. Work on these stations is planned to start from 2015. When up and running in 2019, Crossrail will bring longer and faster trains to these stations, improving access right through Central London and to Heathrow Airport.

But as yet no plans are available for

ACTON MAIN LINE

This sits on a cramped site on Horn Lane, furthest of all Ealing’s stations from its local centre. Crossrail will demolish the existing station and the building next door on Friary Road to provide the station site. There will be a new footbridge with step-free access to the platforms that will be extended and covered with canopies. We’ve been given no idea what the new station will look like or how it will fit in with development next door. Expect this to be some high-rise flats designed for London-bound commuters.

WEST EALING

Crossrail wants to move the station and its entrance into Manor Road, north of the railway. From Manor Road, a footbridge and lifts will give access to the Crossrail platforms which will be extended with canopies provided. The Greenford line to Paddington will cease operation; instead a new shuttle service will run four times an hour between West Ealing and Greenford on a widened northern platform.

West Ealing Centre Neighbourhood Forum (see page 5) have lobbied hard for Crossrail to relocate the station so it sits above the railway from where it could be entered from the south as well as the north, perhaps through Waitrose. This will be far more convenient for people living south of the railway, including the large new housing development at Green Man Lane.

Very importantly, it will also make it easier for people to get into

By Will FrenCh

ACton MAin line stAtion All Photos By Will FrenCh



West Ealing Shopping Centre. This would have the huge benefit of providing a safer route for pedestrians who could avoid Jacobs Ladder which, particularly after dark, is a very unpleasant route. This would be a huge boost for the shopping centre as the railway is a serious obstacle to potential customers walking from the Drayton Green area.

The improved service into central London will make West Ealing even more attractive to housing developers than it is now. As in Acton, we shall see more pressure for high-density new homes.

HANWELL

Currently, Crossrail thinks existing station facilities adequate for expected passenger numbers so plans no major alterations. Platforms are too short for Crossrail trains so selective door opening is needed.

As things stand, Hanwell Station will be one of just seven Crossrail stations that

will not be ‘step-free’. This means there will no way into it without climbing a long flight of steps. Hanwell Community Forum has long campaigned for lifts to be installed. Discussions on how this could be done have commenced. Hanwell Station is a listed building so the design of any lifts will be sensitive. Costs seem to be Crossrail’s main concern.

For many years, Hanwell Community Forum have also called for access to the station from the south to be reopened. This will make it much easier for passengers living around Olde Hanwell to get to the station, and like West Ealing, it will be easier for people living north of the railway to reach the shopping centre. The southern access was closed over 20 years ago amid concerns about night-time safety. At last, in February this year, Transport for London (TfL) announced they will open this southern entrance, but what security measures there will be is not yet known. Plans will be announced on the forum on 11 March but it will be a huge success for local campaigners if TfL stick to their word.

SOUTHALL

The second most important Crossrail station after Ealing Broadway. The station stands on the bridge over the railway, and pedestrian access to it is poor. Crossrail needs to rebuild the station to increase capacity. It will install a new footbridge giving step-free access to the platforms, extend the platforms and provide new canopies.

hAnWell stAtion.

southAll stAtion

The station’s proximity both to Southall Town Centre and the Southall Gasworks site that is scheduled for major new housing, presents a great opportunity to help to regenerate this busy part of the borough. It is quite surprising therefore, how little attention has yet been given to maximising the opportunities the station redevelopment creates. A recent GLA/LBE planning framework for Southall doesn’t really investigate it.

The Southall Communities Alliance is pushing its priorities. Might the station be moved to a more accessible position? How can pedestrian access be improved? What can be done to make sure the new station properly welcomes visitors to Southall and help put the place on the map? The Council is responding by appointing its own architects to work with Crossrail to improve the station’s design and make it as easy as possible for passengers to use.

There is still a lot to fight for.



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St a r t a Bu s i n e s s i n Ea l i n g??A year ago I wrote about the need for a start-up business hub for small shop businesses in Ealing. Since then the “West Ealing Business Hub Group” arose and the Council has created a pop-up shop in West Ealing for people to test out their business ideas. This is a fantastic push for new business in Ealing. In the last year we have been seeing the sproutings of some great businesses.

I spoke with juiceCube who had full reign of the West Ealing Pop-up shop for 2 weeks in February with their mission to help stop food waste and provide real fresh juice drinks to the public for an affordable price. juiceCube said the council wanted businesses in the pop-up shop that could bring a fresh face to the high street. juiceCube definitely hit that note with fresh juice being squeezed in front of everyone’s eyes.

Small start-up businesses in Ealing are growing. You can see them at the pop-up shop, Northfields evening markets, market stalls across the borough and on Facebook groups like ‘Ealing Mums in Business’. MM Radio Cars, Casa di Roberta, Blah Lounge and Love Handmade are a few examples of successful new start-up businesses you find in the borough. The great support that is around for start-ups have helped fuel the start-up ambition. Supporting organisations range from the Start-up Loan Company providing loans, to websites like startups.

co.uk , and Ealing’s own ‘Contact Us’ magazine. It is a fantastic time to start a business and it is inspiring to see what people are doing.

Why are so many People Starting a Business?

Reasons for starting a business vary. These could be knowing their business inside out and wanting a big piece of the money pie, having a unique idea that disrupts a whole industry (like Spotify music), people just wanting to be their own boss, people just looking for a way to keep doing what they love doing or just people daring to dream big. Barriers (age, sex, race) are dropping and with so much support it is becoming easier to start a business. The increase of TV shows like ‘Dragons Den’, ‘The Hotel Inspector’, ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘Peter Jones meets…’ highlight that ordinary people run very successful businesses.

That realisation that seemingly ordinary people run successful million pound businesses can really make you look around Ealing in a whole new light. Look around (hypothetically). Maybe the guy who owns a builders business is a multi millionaire

or maybe the woman who owns a hairdressing salon owns a 2nd house in Spain… I don’t know but it is inspiring to see success around us and wonder if one day that could be me.

If you have been thinking about starting a business check here are some links to help you get started:Ealing Pop-up Shop application: www.bit.ly/1n507IJEaling Summer Festival trading enquiries www.bit.ly/1ozSS6NActon Market application: www.bit.ly/1imjTxbStart-up Loan Company: www.startuploans.co.ukStartups web site www.startups.co.uk

If you are starting a business get in touch via Twitter - @neighbourspaper - and let us know the latest and we will help spread the word.

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Help for Ealing Families By toM Whiting

Neighbours’ Paper understands that being a parent in the modern age can be a challenging experience, especially where there are young children involved. And with cuts in social services and the closing of citizens’ advice centres, parents have ever fewer professional resources to turn to, outside of their family and friends network, to help them overcome problems ranging from post-natal depression and child disability or illness, to relationship difficulties, death in the family, isolation and depression.

A Free Independent Service

Families in Ealing with one or more children under the age of five can turn to Home-Start Ealing. Its local branch is based in Northolt and, according to administrator Lindsay Elliott, was set up in 1995 ‘to provide support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children at home using trained volunteers’.Last year, Home-Start Ealing had over 120 referrals from health visitors and social workers. Its umbrella organization, Home-Start UK, with over 300 branches nationwide, has supported to date some 32,500 families, with over 18,000 volunteers.

A ‘Lifeline’

‘We recruit and train volunteers from around the borough of Ealing,’ says

Lindsay, ‘then carefully match the volunteer with an appropriate family…The volunteer visits the family in their own home once a week, for 2-3 hours.‘Families tell us what a huge difference it makes to their lives, often describing our volunteers as “a ray of sunshine” or a “life-line”’Volunteers offer one-to-one support through a friendly listening ear, stellar encouragement and motivation, practical help and advice on local amenities and services, as well as a comforting presence as an independent adult without emotional ties.The charity is currently piloting a support group with the National Autistic Society which runs monthly.

Family in Desperate Straights

Gemma and her two children, aged 3 and 7 years, recently moved to Ealing after her husband died. The family were suffering due to the bereavement, moving house and everything they were used to changing. Home-Start Ealing matched a volunteer to spend time with the children and provide a listening ear for Mum. The volunteer supported Gemma in finding schools for her children. Gemma was signposted to a bereavement counselling service, which helped her come to terms with her grief. Thanks to a local group, Mum made new friends, providing her and the children with support and social

activities. She signed up to a training course and was aiming to find paid work. Gemma says, ‘I thought my life was over and there was no way out, but my volunteer showed me there was light at the end of the tunnel and that I could start to build a life with my children. I am so thankful.’

Recruitment

Get involved by making a donation, joining one of their numerous fundraising events across Ealing, or volunteering to become one of Home-Start Ealing’s family support members (next course starts on 7 May). For parents needing help, call 020 8842 1617 (Tues-Thurs office hours), or visit www.homestartealing.org.


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Ealing Liberal Synagogue, or ELS as it is more conveniently called, is the spiritual home of the small but vibrant Liberal Jewish community of Ealing and Chiswick.

Friends of the Community

Unlike many other synagogues and churches, ELS is currently undergoing a period of growth and now sees many younger parents and small children coming to the variety of social and religious functions. Many are in

mixed faith relationships and both partners are welcome as members and friends of the community

Founded by a small group of Ealing residents in August 1943, it grew apace and in 1952 acquired a permanent base in its own building in a quiet but easily accessible corner of West Ealing. Naturally, all but one of the founding members have now sadly passed away but have been replaced over the years by new members.

By Arnold AArons

Photo: toM Whiting

Read, Play and Learn!

In addition to the usual services at weekends and on the annual festivals, a wide range of social activities are hosted – two bridge clubs, a badminton group, a book club, an annual quiz supper, Slimnastics, karate, talks on various subjects, coffee mornings and an opportunity for education for both adults and children.

The synagogue building, a former church, also serves as a polling station in local, national and European elections.

ELS is a very welcoming community and there are members representing many parts of the globe, some in

the UK on medium-term contracts from Europe and the New World. We accept that they may be with us for only a few years but we know that, as they depart, they will have contributed to the life of the community in some positive way.

All are Welcome

Often new members come to us via our website, others on reading ads in various local magazines and newsletters. They soon learn that ELS is an inclusive place where all are welcome, irrespective of their backgrounds or orientation and that ethics are more important to us than dogma.

For more information, visit www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk.

EALING LIBERAL SYNAGOGUE



As head of the local branch of the Alumni from Nigeria, I was delighted to welcome Dr Bode Akintayo - an insurance practitioner, who happens to be the incumbent President of the Lagos State University, Masters of Business Administration Alumni, tagged ‘Lasumba Heritage’ - on his recent visit to the UK and Ealing.

The visit took Dr Akintayo and his team to Neighbours’ Papers headquarters in Northfields, Operation Wellfound in Greenford, West London and Brunel Universities,

After 50 years of driving fast motorcycles, bicycles and cars (no convictions and clean licence) maybe I know a little about road safety. What happens if you see something dangerous and try to report it? Try the council website? Enter www.ealing.gov.uk and search road safety where you find just two words

“road” and “safety”. That doesn’t help much. Now try the police. They are often the first to arrive at accidents and they certainly have the power to stop and possibly charge you. They

Sickle Cell Society in Harlesden, and the Ealing Christian Centre.

An educational charity has also been launched by the group to assist the continuing development of university education in Nigeria. The Alumni also intends to register with The Association of Masters of Business Administration UK to foster global business links with other academia.

For the rest of 2014, Ealing’s Nigerian residents can look forward to an International Evening at the Ealing

have no brief for road safety and say it is the responsibility of the Council. The Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and Ealing Safer Communities Team? When I raised a problem at a Walpole Community Focus Panel it was neither recorded in the minutes nor acted on. Following a formal complaint I was told by Shahid Iqbal (Assistant Director, Highway Services) to ring customer services on 8825 5000 or email [email protected] . Another council officer has written that he will react in matters of urgency. His

By Foluso dAWodu

By Arthur Breens

Christian Centre, tentatively fixed for summer; the Quarterly Business Session at the same venue; and a yet to be fixed seminar on ‘The State of The Nation and Referendum on Scottish Independence: the place of Ethnic Minorities living in Scotland’. Additionally, the Adire Carnival takes place in June, and the launch of the Nigerian Orchestra Newsletter occurs in the second quarter of 2014.

name is Mark Burgess on [email protected] Tel: 07713371470. However when builders’ scaffolding completely blocked the pavement at the Lido junction in Nov 2013 we had to both persuade the Leader of the Council to make six phone calls and post a youtube video. The scaffolding was rapidly taken back 1.2m from the kerb edge to provide a safe pedestrian route. To see the clip, google wecnf youtube. So how do you report road safety issues? You choose!

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Action NetballNP sports reporter Michael Holmes met Stormey Divine, Manager/Owner of Action Netball, a social netball league which includes an Ealing branch.

How did the organisation start? I played for another league, attending weekly sessions for some years and saw the lack of interest over time. This was due to a high turnover of managers. Having gone down to one session from two each week, I decided to start my own league.

What inspired that decision?

I loved playing netball two nights a week and the social elements of Thursday nights made it more enjoyable.

Where do you meet?

Twice weekly sessions take place Reynolds Sports Centre at Acton High School on Gunnersbury Lane W3.

What year did the organisation start? I started the club in 2011. By that time I had enough confidence and experience to set up such a league.

How many members registered? At last count approximately 250 active who attend sessions regularly. We hope to double that number in the coming years, especially as the national team (England) is currently ranked third in the world.

Michael, may I move away from the club for a moment and tell you about some information regarding the netball world championships? The next one is happening in Sydney in 2015. There’s certainly room for improvement as England look to build on the 1975 final defeat to Australia in Auckland, New Zealand. In fact, England have never finished outside the top five since the championships began in 1963.

What achievements have the club made?

We’ve not won any major trophies yet - and I do stress yet because that’s something definitely in the pipeline. It’s always nice to be recognised for the great work done and making such achievements is only a matter of time.

Any members part of the national team?

Not that I’m aware of. Being a social league it’s sometimes hard to keep abreast of all 20 teams competing in the association.

What positive impact is the club having in Ealing?

For its members the benefits are

social, interactive, and healthy. Not to mention a great way to keep fit. Further still, many opportunities to play for the national team with the help and support available from the association.

What lies ahead?

Sure, the league has aspirations, to continue growing into one of the most successful divisions countrywide and encourage more people from across different ethnicities to take part. See www.action-netball.co.uk. For more information about the game itself, see www.netball.org/netball/the-rules-of-netball.

Documents

Issue no 68: Ealing Rocks!