www.actongreen.org.uk
ACTON GREEN RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
22ND MARCH 2006
48 members attended. Apologies for absence received from six members.
Approved by members and signed by the Chairman.
Geoffrey Rippingale reported that this year’s accounts had been approved by Ann Denton and Bryony Wilman and had been circulated to members. On behalf of the Committee he thanked Ann and Bryony for their continued help.
As in previous years our main expense in 2005 was on printing which amounted to 80% of our outgoings. Remaining costs included office sundries, hire of meeting hall and subscriptions to other organisations. Due to a lower membership in 2005 our income fell to £762.88, but after total expenses of £697.19 we had a small surplus of £65.69. Our reserves, however, remain healthy and on 31st December 2005 amounted to £1,842.
In 2005 we had 154 members, which was down 25 on 2004. The subscription remains at £5 per household (£2 for Senior Citizens) and the Committee would like to thank 114 members who have so far renewed their subscription for 2006, and would remind those who have not already done so to renew as soon as possible. Completed membership forms should be sent to Geoffrey Rippingale. who reminded members that we rely entirely for our income on subscriptions so it is vital that we encourage friends and neighbours to join AGRA. Committee members attend meetings with both London Boroughs of Ealing and Hounslow, Metropolitan Police, Metronet (for London Underground) and transport groups and it is important therefore that when we speak at those meetings we represent a large proportion of the residents of Acton Green.
Safer Neighbourhoods Liz Dendy reported that from 27th March each ward in Ealing will have a team of officers to replace the Home Beat officers and complement the work of the main Police units. The Southfield team, Sergeant Helene Holloway,
PC Tim Scrimshaw and CPSO Ikram Syed will be based in Provident House, King Street, Acton (020 8721 2946). Their remit is to listen to residents, identify local issues and work to find solutions. It will not be easy; we have to bring together the four diverse parts of Southfield Ward – Bedford Park, Acton Green, the roads in between and the large area north of Southfield Road, much of which is industrial.
Through an elected Ward Panel, we have to agree three priorities which the team will then implement. It will take time as many details are not yet clear; they reckon the Panel may well meet in the autumn. Meanwhile the team will familiarise themselves with the area and the residents. Liz Dendy reported that she had met Helene with several people from the Ward and agreed that we would invite the team to our September Police and Neighbourhood Watch Meeting.
Neighbourhood Watch The previous Ealing Manager, Debbie Jackson, has left and as a temporary measure the Police have appointed a co-ordinator who is working to re-establish the Association. Her role is not clear and it is hoped that her work is
co-ordinated with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams. Street Co-ordinators are still needed – volunteers please contact Liz Dendy on 8994 4262 lizdendy@ukgateway.net.
Home Fire Safety Checks. The London Fire Brigade offer free checks, especially for elderly people. They are most helpful – three firemen or women arrive in a fire engine, fit smoke alarms and give advice and follow it up with a leaflet. Ring them on 0800 1284428 to arrange a visit. They will be invited to attend our September meeting.
Susan Evans reported on refuse collection on Mondays and re-cycling waste on Tuesdays. Bags of refuse should not be placed on the pavements at any time as this attracts vermin, foxes and cats and causes an obstruction If this is being done on a regular basis please report it if you feel it causes a problem. The dustmen are obliged to enter front gardens and collect black bags or empty dustbins of bags. These should be put out last thing on Sunday or very early on Monday morning. Garden waste will be collected but you need to buy pink bags from the Council (020 8813 3139).
We should receive food waste boxes by June and the Council is hoping by next year that there will be a cardboard collection. Call to have your large waste items removed (020 8825 6000)
Fly tipping should always be reported and the Council are quick to remove items.
Stirling Road refuse dump has been put forward as the possible site for a new swimming pool. This is as yet only a vague suggestion and we have asked to be kept informed on any developments.
Geoffrey Rippingale reported that the timetable for the West London Tram has been revised to enable TfL to do a further assessment of the scheme. The current date for the Public enquiry is Spring 2007. If construction starts on schedule the project will be completed on 2013. The London Boroughs of Hillingdon and Hammersmith & Fulham have withdrawn their support. Ealing, although initially a prime supporter, is now very unhappy about the location of proposed construction sites within the Borough and their impact on local amenities. Our MP Andy Slaughter (Labour) is opposed to the scheme as currently proposed. The tram will feature in the forthcoming local elections and the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are opposed.
EPTUG (Ealing Passenger Transport Users Group) have come out against the scheme in its present form as they say it fails to integrate with the hub at Ealing Broadway and fails to provide transport to Ealing Hospital. The pinch-points in Acton High Street, Hanwell and Southall are also major concerns. London Travel Watch are in principle in favour but want TfL to reconsider the whole plan. The Mayor remains “totally committed to the West London Tram”.
As the cost of the scheme rises, financial considerations and the need to find funds to improve the transport infrastructure in East London by 2012 may yet sound the death knell for the scheme and thereby save our streets from traffic chaos.
Julia Sutton-Vane reported that Ealing Council should begin planting trees and shrubs at the end of March in various locations around the Green, including planned plant screening of the embankment. Ongoing work will include replacing benches and installing bins, repairing the pathway and demolishing the former green-keeper’s hut and surrounding fence near Fishers Lane and returning the area to grass.
Ealing Council have been advised that litter collection on Acton Green Common is very poor and they have been asked to address this as a matter of urgency (broken glass, bins spilling over etc.)
Valerie Walker reported that Phase 1 and 2 of the new lighting scheme are not quite complete.. Reinstatement of small areas around lamp standards and replacing of ties holding up signs on standards with metal bands should be completed by Easter. All lamp standards are numbered and when reporting a faulty light please give not only the number on the standard but also the house number in the relevant street.
Sheelagh Ellwood, who joined the AGRA Committee in 2005, reported on environmental issues, both natural such as trees and shrubs in need of pruning, water leaking from drains and mains, and not-so-natural including broken pavements and kerbstones, abandoned vehicles, overflowing skips and fly-tipping. Ealing Council were generally helpful where the problem was something they were empowered to deal with and would encourage residents to phone (020 8825 6000) if they see rubbish deliberately dumped. Ask for a job number in order to follow up if the problem persists.
The Bell Industrial Estate. SE reported that she had been in communication with both the Council and the management of the Estate regarding clearing rubbish and pruning the shrubs on the pavement in Cunnington Street. The Ealing Environmental Officer visited the site in February and the Secretary of the Estate is in the process of getting estimates from contractors, which will be discussed with the tenants. AGRA will continue to monitor and chivvy where necessary and it would be helpful if other residents would also do so and ring the Environmental Services to complain if nothing is done.
AGRA has recently rejoined this campaign which is designed to try and stop the ever increasing noise from aircraft using Heathrow. In 2004 there were 470,000 aircraft movements at Heathrow and there is currently a limit of 480,000 per year. It is thought with the opening of Terminal 5 there may be moves to try and break this limit. This could be done in two ways – by ending runway alternation in which landing aircraft switch from one way to the other at 3 pm. This gives people under the flight path a respite for half the day. The second method would be to build a third runway and Terminal 6, which would bring aircraft directly over our area.
AGRA is keeping a watching brief and will report any further developments or threats to our area.
The Chairman reported on various meetings which he and Geoffrey Rippingale had regularly attended with Metronet (the contractors in charge of the repairs) Ealing and Hounslow Councils and the Police. The main problem now is the noise experienced at night by residents in the Fairlawns and Acton Lane which is likely to be worse in the summer when windows are open. At the present rate of progress the work is likely to continue until December.
If the traffic under the bridge was made one way only it would mean that the contractors could also work by day. They would still carry on working and closing the road at night and on occasional weekends. This would cut down the noise at night by 70% to 80% and the time needed to complete the job by about three months. In order for this arrangement to work it would be necessary to make Montgomery and Antrobus Roads one way, with entry to Montgomery from Bollo Lane and Antrobus from Cunnington Street.
It was pointed out that this would cause considerable problems with heavy traffic coming down these side roads and trying to negotiate the turn into Cunnington Street,
and create a hazard for parked cars in all the roads involved.
On a show of hands the meeting voted against this proposal.
Other Matters Raised
Projecting paving stones: How high does the projection have to be before they are
replaced? Cllr. Rose said he would look into this.
Continuation of CPZ: Two members raised objections to the CPZ and asked whether there was a process for raising their disagreement. Other members present supported the continuation of CPZ.
All Committee members were willing to stand again, with the exception of Valerie Walker, who was retiring and Clare Cole who was going abroad. The Committee was re-elected unanimously. The Chairman thanked those Committee members who were retiring, particularly Valerie Walker who had served since the Committee began and had contributed an enormous amount of time and energy for the benefit of AGRA and Clare Cole who had collaborated with Council on the new Children’s Playground on Acton Green Common.