RELATIONS between Ealing Council and Transport for London are hanging in the balance after councillors this week called for a rethink of controversial plans to build tram depots for the West London Tram on sensitive sites.

TfL announced in October proposals to build the depots on areas including: Dickens Yard, a site the council had earmarked for development; a sports field belonging to Twyford High School in Acton; the corner of Argyle Road, west Ealing; and a football pitch-sized depot on Shepherd's Bush Green.

But the proposals have caused uproar and now council bosses want more discussion.

Cllr Ray Wall, Ealing's cabinet member for transport and planning policy, said in a statement: "The breakdown in communication about the way these sites have been chosen is simply unacceptable.

"It is of paramount importance that proper consideration is given to local residents in the discussions process so that any disruption can be kept to a minimum. Some of the proposed sights are totally inappropriate.

"I am calling on TfL to go back to the drawing board and come up with revised proposals that are more informed and acceptable to the people of Ealing."

But opposition parties within the Labour-led council which until now has been in support of the scheme say the rift with TfL is an attempt by the council to shift blame onto TfL following the public backlash to the proposals.

Cllr Will Brooks, Conservative transport spokesman, said: "It is a bit rich for the council to now blame all the failures for consultation on TfL when all along they have been telling us how closely the council and TfL are working together."

At an Ealing Area Committee meeting in the town hall on Monday, a spokesman for TfL emphasized the plans are in the consultation stage and appealed to the public to give their views.

He said: "We are working on revising the details of the proposals and we are very keen to hear local people's views."

The consultation closes on December 16.

Have your say on the proposals at www.tfl.gov.uk