CONCERNED Ealing residents have collected more than 1,900 signatures on their petition against future housing developments to be built on and near Gurnell Leisure Centre.

At a cabinet meeting on March 24 2015, Ealing Council agreed to a £33million investment to refurbish the centre and construct high-rise apartments on Ruislip Road East.

The decision provoked outrage from residents, prompting Ailis Gavan, of Pitshanger, to start the petition.

She said: “I'm 26, working for a blue chip company, and I can't afford a house.

“I am concerned not just that I can’t afford to buy a house, but for how people on low paid jobs can afford to live in London.

“Rent in Ealing is very high, how can teachers, postmen, bus drivers, police, doctors and nurses afford to live here?

“We need these services and these people.

“Even those who can afford to buy need these people and the vital services they provide.”

She pinpointed right to buy schemes as the possible reason as to why many people rely on the private rented sector and proposed that radical solutions, such as high council taxes for empty properties, might need to be put in place.

Talking of her petition, she said: “This is the way forward for people to get our voices heard and get Ealing Council to reconsider its policy to abandon its commitment to affordable and social housing.”

Those who signed the appeal echoed similar sentiments.

Daniella Murphy said: “Affordable housing doesn’t and shouldn't mean affordable for those with a high income.

“Time to stop rebranding this lining of pockets and create something meaningful. 

“The solution to the housing crisis and the culture of exploitation that surrounds it is simple.

“Fewer luxury, and inevitably soulless, apartments.

“More homes for people who desperately need, want and deserve them.

“That's how we build communities.”

Ealing Council built 606 affordable homes in 2014-15 but only 128 in 2015-16.

Ngozi Plange said: “I was one of those who had to move out of the borough because I couldn't afford to buy there. This shouldn't be the case.

“The borough needs to focus on securing good quality affordable housing particularly for those who have lived there for decades and whose families remain in Ealing.”

Ealing Council has invited residents to a series of public consultation meetings.

The meetings, that will centre on the redevelopment plans, will be held at Hathaway Primary School and will take place on Thursday May 19, June 9 and July 14.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said:

“At least half of the properties in the current proposals offer rent at prices ordinary working people can afford. 

“Allowing a small amount of private housing development on this severely constrained site will contribute £25m towards a fantastic new, modern facility.

“Reducing the cost of redeveloping the centre means the savings made will be available for other, affordable housing developments across the borough. 

“We are looking to develop a £37m state-of-the-art Olympic sized pool and leisure centre that will be the pride of Ealing.

“Given over half of our budget has been cut in recent years, it would be impossible for the council to develop this without building properties close by, as has been done in Northolt and Acton in recent years.”

The centre’s refurbishment, among other things, will result in a new 50m pool and will be cost-neutral for the council due to the construction agreement made with developers Willmott Dixon.

The skateboard park next to Gurnell Leisure Centre, which cost the council £400,000 to build, will also be affected by the developments.

Robin Weathersbee, Ealing Skatepark Association’s chairman, said: “The skatepark won’t be able to stay at its current location but we will be working with the council to ensure that a suitable replacement is designed and built.

“Ideally, the new facility will be finished before the existing skatepark is decommissioned but this will be subject to the developer’s schedule and site access issues.”

The centre is likely to close in spring 2017 until January 2019 if the deal goes ahead.

A planning application is expected to be submitted and approved this spring.

You can sign the petition here.