ACTON GREEN RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

3rd MARCH 2005

31 people attended. Apologies received from 10 members, including Elizabeth

Dendy, Committee member and Andy Johnson, Pastor of the Acton Green Church

who was thanked by the meeting for the use of the Church for the AGM.

Minutes of the last meeting

Approved and signed by the Chairman.

Treasurer's Report

Geoffrey Rippingale reported that the accounts for 2004 had been inspected and approved by Ann Denton and Briony Wilman and the Committee thanked them for undertaking this action, which they were prepared to repeat for 2005 accounts.

Due to a lower membership in 2004 our income fell to £778.03 but after total expenses of £734.45 we showed a small surplus of £34.58. Our reserves remain healthy but since the only income comes from members' subscriptions it is vital that we maintain a healthy level of membership.

Our main expense in 2004 was printing which amounted to two thirds of our outgoings. The remaining third were office sundries, hire of this hall, subscriptions to other organisations and Council Planning reports.

Membership

Paid up membership for 2004 was 179 households, which is about 12% of all households, 1% down on 2003. Subscriptions for 2005 remain at £5 per household or a £2 concessionary rate and the Committee would like to thank the 115 members who have already renewed their subscriptions for 2005 and would remind those who have not yet done so to renew as soon as possible.

It is important that we all try to encourage friends and neighbours to feel a sense of involvement in their local community and to join their local Residents' Association.

AGRA Committee members attend many meetings with both the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow concerning local planning, local police, Neighbourhood Watch, transport groups, street cleaning, parking, lighting and Acton Green Common and it is therefore important that when we speak at those meetings we can say that we represent a large proportion of local residents.

Secretary's Report

CPZ: The recent Consultation with residents in the 'M' CPZ area have resulted in recommendations to include Fletcher Road and a small part of Acton Lane by the Railway bridge. The feed back from 500 residents who returned the Consultation Documents accepted that CPZ days and times should continue in their present form.

Planning: The planning application for buildings 6 and 7 in the Chiswick Business Park was rejected by Hounslow Borough Council who have not yet received a new application. Alterations are currently being made to the Bollo Lane entrance to the Business Park and the AGRA Committee is watching developments.

South Acton Estate: there are big plans for changes to the estate, the railway bridge and the allotments and we have noticed from the drawings that some of the buildings adjacent to the station will be higher than before. The AGRA Committee has attended exhibitions in connection with this development.

2 Bollo Lane: We are working closely with the Gunnersbury Triangle. There is a new Planning Application which we have not yet seen.

Neighbourhood Watch

Liz Dendy is away and her report was circulated at the meeting and is attached to these minutes. The Chairman reported that a new Beat Officer, Les Smith, has been appointed and is due to start shortly.

Street Cleaning

Susan Evans reported that the new cleansing contract with ECT (Ealing Community Transport) began on 28^th February. They will handle refuse, re-cycling and road cleansing. Collection and cleaning days will, for the foreseeable future, remain the same but there may be some changes in the future

Recycling: apart from the usual paper, glass and cans, the following can now be put in the Green Box – Yellow Pages (keep dry as used for bedding for small pets) aerosols, aluminium foil, food trays, takeaway trays, engine oil (ie one engine change – no cooking oil) car batteries and domestic batteries (keep small ones in a bag to prevent them rolling around). The Council is now looking into the possibility of re-cycling cardboard and plastic. Report any litter left after collection.

Transport

Crossrail: Geoffrey Rippingale reported that the proposal to route trains through Chiswick and down to Kingston has been dropped and the project will now concentrate on the East-West Link, Maidenhead to Shenfield, with trains stopping locally at Acton, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing and Hanwell main line stations.

West London tram: Transport for London published the results of the recent public consultation when over 440,000 questionnaires were distributed between June and October last year. 59% of the 17,000 responses were against the project. TfL had also commissioned independent market research amongst a sample of 1,000 people which showed support for the tram of 3 to 1. In their official press release TfL are now claiming that there is 3 to 1 support according to market research but failing to mention that 59% of the much larger group of 17,000 are against. Ealing Council's Cabinet Member for Transport & Planning is also supporting the 3 to 1 argument saying that market research is more representative of public opinion – a view not shared by our own Southfield ward councillors.

Acton Lane Bridge Closure

Repair work starts on 21^st March for a period of 15 months and will involve closing Acton Lane to traffic 6 days a week from 8.30pm to 6.30am. Work will take place throughout the night and LU's contractors have undertaken to keep noise to a minimum by use of baffles.

AGRA has been in contact with Ealing and Hounslow boroughs as well as LU contractor Metronet to represent residents' concerns about noise and displaced traffic and at a meeting with Metronet it was agreed that –

¨ Metronet will deliver an explanatory letter to all residents with a phone number to call.

¨ signs saying 'local traffic only' to be erected in Bollo Lane at ends of Montgomery, Antrobus, Rothschild and Weston Roads

¨ signs saying 'local traffic only' to be erected in Acton Lane at the ends of Gladstone, Steele, Fletcher and Reynolds roads

¨ signs saying 'no through road to Bollo Lane' to be erected in Acton Lane at the entrance to Fairlawn Avenue and in Cunnington Street at the entrance to Fairlawn Grove

¨ there will be no work over Easter 25-28 March

¨ the result of the independent investigation into the feasibility of using a platform

under the bridge will be available mid-April

¨ temporary offices will be installed at the bottom of Bollo Lane next to the barber shop.

Actpn Green Common

Clare Cole reported that AGRA has been involved in several actions to improve Acton Green Common. In July the AGRA Committee met with David Stokes, Senior Ranger at Ealing Parks and Countryside Division whose remit covers Acton Green Common and we raised a range of issues including –

¨ railway embankment planting

¨ provision of additional litter bins

¨ clearing of disused park keeper's hut

¨ repairs to paths

¨ lighting

The playground: AGRA lobbied LBE to spend part of our allocation of S106 money on refurbishing the playground and when this was agreed CC helped to co-ordinate community consultation. £75,000 has been spend on resurfacing, new equipment and new planting and the playground is now very popular with local residents.

Lighting

Valerie Walker reported that we have been trying to speed up completion of the new lighting in our area. Phase 1 was started in July and has still not been completed.

Lists of faults noted by Committee members has been regularly reported. Phase 2 which started in the autumn with a different contractor has gone more smoothly and this Phase should be finished soon. We propose writing to the Head of Engineering Services complaining about the incompetence of the contractors and suggesting sanctions.

Other matters raised by members at the meeting include –

¨ LBE's plan to cut down lime trees because of the roots causing damage to property

¨ Steele Road Church which is being developed for housing

General Election

The Chairman reported that the Committee had met with candidates from the three main parties and discussed our concerns for our neighbourhood. Agreed to try and arrange for a meeting between AGRA members and the candidates once the General Election is called.

Election of Officers

The Chairman announced that all existing members were prepared to stand again with the exception of Ian Ham and Barry McGovern and called for volunteers to join the Committee. Existing members were re-elected unanimously.

The meeting closed at 9.20 pm