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PCA Newsletter 38 - June 2009 |
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Streets
For People – Now We Know
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There was an air of anxious anticipation as
residents and traders walked into the special Ward Forum meeting
in St Barnabas Church Hall last month, not knowing what the
Council had planned for the Lane and how it would affect them.
As it turned out the plans were essentially very similar to the
initial proposals (there are some changes to loading bays and
bus stops) which had received 77% approval in the Council’s
January 2008 consultation exercise. Concerns
expressed in the question and answer session that followed
ranged from safety issues, the relative proportions that are to
be taken from each pavement, a strong desire for ‘Stop and Shop’
limited time parking, retaining the bollards (which almost
certainly saved serious injury in last month’s crash on the Lane
– see separate report) to whether we need the scheme at all
(“Streets for People? Streets for Buses!” said one objector).
The Councillors resisted calls for an immediate 20 mph speed
limit on the Lane on the grounds that it would encourage
‘rat-running’ along Meadvale Road, but didn’t rule out later
consultation on an area-wide 20 mph zone. You can
look at the plans on the PCA website
here. Two informed critics of the proposals – Tony Purton
and Martin Kelly – are holding a series of open workshops at
North Ealing School (Woodbury Park Road entrance) on Saturday
mornings from 20th June to 11th July. So where does the PCA
Committee stand? The result of our consultation of PCA members
in 2007 was positive overall and resulted in a number of
recommendations to the Council, whose subsequent full public
consultation (which incorporated several of our recommendations)
yielded an overall ‘Yes’ vote of 77%. We stand by those results,
but it is now over to Ealing Council to get the final details
right and to deliver a scheme that fulfils the promise of the
public consultation. We respect the views of those who object to
the scheme and remain open-minded to any further good design
ideas that may emerge, as long as they fall within the
parameters of the scheme that was approved via public
consultation. |
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So
Nearly A Tragedy
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Recycling |
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A multi-casualty accident was narrowly avoided last
month after a small hatchback travelling along
Pitshanger Lane was hit by a larger Mercedes whose
driver failed to stop at the bottom of Queens Walk.
The hatchback spun around and headed
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Our friends at Rotary Club of Hanwell
and Northfields have been given a “Significant
Achievement Award” by Rotary International for their
outstanding efforts towards recycling. We still have
our joint project with them for recycling old
mobiles, glasses, toner cartridges and postage
stamps: drop them in the boxes in Pitshanger
Bookshop or the Brentham Club and you’ll be
improving the lives of others in Africa and beyond. |
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towards the bench outside Stepping Out
which was occupied at the time: disaster was averted
simply because of a well-placed bollard. The
occupants of the vehicle were treated for shock but
were otherwise uninjured. |
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School Expansion Approved - Almost
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It looks as though the proposed expansion of North
Ealing School will go ahead following a meeting of Ealing
Council’s Planning Committee on 10th June. But the development
has been given only an amber light for now. The Committee
listened to concerns expressed by local residents and Ward
Councillors about trees that might be threatened by delivery
trucks accessing the building site via Woodbury Park Road and
part of Pitshanger Park – particularly the lovely avenue of
London Planes. Rather unusually, the Committee
decided to defer final approval until it has had a chance to
scrutinise the developer’s “method statement”, which will
include detailed proposals for the protection of trees in
Pitshanger Park. This stage, which is normally handled by
Council Officers away from the public gaze, will now be
considered in public by the Planning Committee at its next
meeting on 1st July. Formal approval is expected to follow
provided the tree protection measures pass muster.
One other interesting point that came out was a late and as yet
undocumented proposal from the developer to deliver as much
building material as possible during the school summer holiday,
using existing entrances to the school, thus relieving some of
the pressure on Woodbury Park Road and the trees in the Park. |
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Bad News
For Elastoplast
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Pride In
Pitshanger Awards
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Local parents and carers who daren't
take a trip to Pitshanger park playground without a
first aid kit can breathe a sigh of relief in the
knowledge that Ealing Council has just agreed to
spend £51,000 on the playground this year, including
new safer surfacing and play equipment.
The decision comes not a minute too
soon for the many kids injured by the sharp, loose
gravel in the playground. Work will be carried out
before April 2010 following an extensive local
consultation on how the money should be spent. The
PCA will be trying to ensure that as many families
in the area as possible are consulted so why not
start asking your kids for their ideas now? The best
ones may well be included in the new scheme.
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For the third year running we’re
inviting nominations so we can make awards of £100
each to those who deserve recognition for all they
do in the Pitshanger community. We have two
categories – 16 and under and 17 and above. Please
submit a short summary setting out why your
nominee’s contribution to our community should be
warmly appreciated. Forms are available from PCA
Secretary Debbie Edwards on 0870 908 7744 or email
debbie.edwards@pitshanger.org.uk. Nominations no
later than 28th June, please, but you can hand them
in to the PCA tent at Party In The Park.
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Centenary Party In The Park
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It’s not only 100 years of Pitshanger Lane, it’s
also the tenth Party In The Park. Conceived as a
one-off to mark the millennium, it’s developed into
a staple of the Pitshanger year, an entirely
volunteer-run event costing £20,000 to put on and
attracting over 7,000 guests.
This year’s nominated charity is Meadow House
Hospice, attached to Ealing Hospital but very much
reliant on local goodwill and generosity to provide
those little extras that make a life-limiting
illness a bit more tolerable.
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Starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday 28th
June, this party, sponsored by Northfields, should
be the biggest and best ever. There’s a fabulous
opening spectacular with 300 dancers on the main
stage, the Pitshanger Popstars talent contest, the
Craft Village, fun activities in the Arena with our
mates from Fit For Sport including Kangoo Jumps and
Speedminton – kids will love it! – followed by the
Village Vet Dog Show (complete with the canine
confusion we know as the Sausage Race), the old-time
Carousel, a display of old police vehicles, and even
a chance to pelt MP Steve Pound with wet sponges to
get that expenses-related anger out of your system
(although Steve will no doubt remind us he doesn’t
claim for a second home).
The Village Inn in the Park (sponsored
by guess who) will be the venue for the evening’s
‘Beer Tent Event’. Starting at 4.30, we have the
final of Pitshanger Popstars followed by our old
favourites Copycats knocking out your faves from any
decade (better be up on Dub-step Grime – Ed.) and
support.
Needless to say we need helpers,
especially on Saturday morning to put up the craft
marquee and on Monday morning to take it down again.
Please contact Doug Winter on 8998 7758 or email
doug.winter@pitshanger.org.uk. Stage Manager
George Auckland has also caught the Obama-like
spirit of change this year and is looking for
“interesting” acts to perform. Doesn’t have to be a
long set: just come along and do your party piece.
Email George on
george.auckland@pitshanger.org.uk. |
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Pitshanger Needs You!
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Pitshanger Stories
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What with the proposed changes to the
Lane, it’s more important than ever that Pitshanger
residents and traders have a strong voice with which
to make our concerns known to the Council. If you
haven’t renewed your membership yet, add your weight
to Pitshanger Power by emailing
membership@pitshanger.org.uk or calling 0870 908
7744.
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Infused with the Centenary spirit, PCA
members Jeremy Hillman and Bobby Miles-Kingston have
put together a website featuring audio diaries of
some of the people who live and work in Pitshanger.
Have a look at
www.pitshangerstories.co.uk – it’s a work in
progress but already they’ve got six traders talking
about their experiences and why they set up shop on
the Lane. Inspiring.
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And The
Answer Is – Mango and Pineapple!
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The PCA Annual Quiz took place on May 8th at the
Brentham Club with a great turnout of 90 people. After a fun
kick-off round based on the Pitshanger area the quiz ended in
yet another nail biting tie-break won by Jo Corker from the
North Ealing School parents’ table. Another good night, although
after the jam tasting round we doubt many people fancied jam for
breakfast the next day. Many thanks to Karen and David Jacks for
organizing it all, and John Waters for his help on the night. |
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E2
Double Deckers
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Although the newsletter has been telling you for a
year that double deckers were on their way, it was
still a shock to see these rather brutal reminders
that we actually live in London trundling along the
Lane. Opinion is divided – stand at the eastbound
bus stop at 7.30 on a weekday morning and you’ll
find commuters grateful for buses that aren’t full
by the time they get here. Others think they’re a
potential safety hazard and are damaging the trees.
We’ve started a thread on the website for you to add
your
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opinions
here. You can also contact Ealing Passenger
Transport User Group which acts as a pressure group
for local transport users. They have a hotline for
passenger issues: 8998 0999. |
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More
Pitshanger Centenary Events
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Coming up shortly are the Ealing Youth Orchestra
at St Barnabas Church on Saturday 4th July, the Fred Perry
Centenary Weekend at the Brentham Club (11th/12th July), and a
Family Cycle ride to Osterley on Sunday 19th July. More details
are on the website or from Centenary Organiser John Waters on
8997 5200 or email
john.waters@pitshanger.co.uk. The St Barnabas
Centenary Proms season starts on Monday 20th July, and will end
in a gala Last Night of the Proms on Friday August 7th. Last
year’s inaugural series was a triumph and organiser Dr Hugh
Mather is expecting no less this year. Further details are
available at
www.barnabites.org/concertsproms.asp or contact Hugh on 8997
7691 or email
hmather@btopenworld.com. Finally, if you’re
slightly older than the average – or know someone who is – come
along to our Pink Afternoon Tea at the Brentham Club on Thursday
16th July, from 3 till 5 pm. You’ll be waited upon and served
pink bubbly in convivial surroundings. We anticipate this will
be a popular event so reserve your place now by contacting PCA
Secretary Debbie Edwards on 0870 908 7744 or email
debbie.edwards@pitshanger.org.uk. You can see
the complete programme of Centenary events
here. |
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