'Slow down will buy more time'

2:39pm Saturday 10th May 2008

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THE long-awaited report recommending how the council should shape future development in Ealing has been released.

Urban design firm Tibbalds spent a year talking to residents in and around the town before coming up with its recommendations.

These include building bigger shop units to increase retail quality, developing the character of different areas including West Ealing, and using the planned Green Man Lane Estate redevelopment to attract new investment.

Eric Leach, a leading member of the West Ealing Neighbours residents' association, has read the 100-page report.

He said: "All of the things mentioned in the report are recommendations and not council policy, and will help the council make up its final local development framework in winter 2010.

"I think one problem is Tibbalds has been told to treat the proposed Arcadia and Dickens Yard developments in Ealing town centre as if they are already approved, but it should not as they are not a given yet.

"In West Ealing it has suggested extending Sainsbury's to create an entry onto the Uxbridge Road with a town square in front of it.

"There is a lot of support for the idea of a green space in the middle of the Green Man Estate, and opening a café and public toilets in Dean Gardens."

Other ideas in the report included four covered tennis courts on top of the Springbridge Road multi-storey car park and improved street furniture, although there is no mention of a West Ealing Crossrail station.

Mr Leach also expressed concern at the lack of mention of policing issues, despite the report mentioning healthcare facilities and schools.

He continued: "For me, it's important West Ealing is not lumped together with Ealing and classed as a metropolitan centre as it has a completely different character, which is pointed out in the report.

"As a metropolitan centre it gives scope for high-rise development to be permitted in the town centre, which is not good for West Ealing.

"Hopefully the slow down in the property market will make it harder for developers to get funding for tower blocks and allow more time for the council to properly work out what they want.

"There has been no serious development in Ealing since the Broadway Centre opened in 1985, and hopefully this will help the council to form a cohesive plan for the future of the area."