Save Ealing's Centre Unveils Alternative Proposal for Ealing

Campaigners publish their own plans as Glenkerrin's go before Councillors

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The planning meeting for the Arcadia application is due to be held next Wednesday, December 17, in Ealing Town Hall, starting at 7pm.

Save Ealing’s Centre

Ealing Broadway Bid

info@ecplondon.co.uk

www.ealingcentrepartnership.co.uk

With less than a week before planners decide on the future face of Ealing, campaigners have made a shock move and thrown their own proposals into the mix.

Save Ealing's Centre (SEC) has published a 32-page document it claims offers a better alternative than both the two plans for development currently being bandied for the Dickens Yard and Arcadia sites.

Made up from 26 residents groups representing 15,000 people around Ealing, SEC was originally set up in reaction to plans for a 40-storey tower on the Arcadia site.

Glenkerrin's latest plans, which go before councillors next Wednesday, December 17, despite having been scaled down, are still not acceptable to SEC. The Irish Developer's drawings include hundreds of flats and shops on the site, along with a 26-storey building.

Spokesperson for SEC, Tony Miller, told press: “What we have tried to do is build a document which will give Ealing something to build on for the next 100 years.

“This document has been put together by architects, town planners and retail experts from our group, not just some NIMBYS with no technical knowledge.”

The proposals feature a large conference centre and hotel for Ealing, as well as an arts centre and better shopping facilities.

There would also be a community facility based in a refurbished town hall, and a transport interchange around Ealing Broadway station to link buses, rail and cars more effectively.

There are no buildings higher than eight storeys in the town centre, and not more than five storeys on buildings facing Haven Green, as well as being 'sympathetic' to neighbouring styles.

Mr Miller explained the focus: “Crossrail is coming and it will bring big changes, which the current designs on the table do not take account of.

“Ealing is in a central location, it will be 10 minutes from the City and Heathrow, but we need to have something here which will attract people to come.

“If we are going to have a conference centre we will need a decent hotel.

“We have tried not not be too area specific with the plans to try and allow for these ideas to be incorporated into the existing designs.”

SEC plans to launch the document publicly in January, when it will be sent to planning staff and councillors, and host a public meeting on January 20 to debate the ideas.

The plans are seen as relevant whether or not Glenkerrin gets the go-ahead, and despite developer St George having been given the green light on Dickens Yard in November.

“Glenkerrin has said they will not start building for three years when they get permission," said Mr Miller. “Just because they get permission for one thing does not mean that is what they will build, it does not automatically follow.

“The council can put pressure on them to change the designs, and this document can go a long way to getting helping shape the future.

“We have thousands of members, and the council should pay attention to that, as that is what local democracy is really about.”

The planning meeting for the Arcadia application is due to be held next Wednesday, December 17, in Ealing Town Hall, starting at 7pm.

 

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December 11, 2008