Acton Central

Neighbourhood news Issue 3 • December 2011 Surf the net in the new Playing Fields Pavilion Local people can now attend Internet and Information Technology classes at North Acton Playing Fields Pavilion thanks to a £4,000 contribution by Acton Central Ward Forum. The forum, led by your ward councillors Daniel Crawford, Abdullah Gulaid and Patricia Walker, also recommended funding the following projects from the ward’s annual budget of £37,500: • A proposed one-way traffic system in Grafton Road • Supporting the Acton Christmas Fair in Market Square on 10 December • Landscape planting improvements in St. Mary’s Burial Ground, Churchfield Road • The purchase of an additional bicycle and equipment for the Acton Central Police Safer Neighbourhoods Team. A record number of more then 115 people attended the two ward forums

Acton’s Digital Champions held in June and October and debated topical local concerns including: The money went towards installing classes from 10am -12noon, every controlled parking zones in Acton, wireless equipment and is one of five Friday where people can become Digital development of the town centre and local improvements funded by Acton Champions and use their new skills to the expansion of Acton schools. Central Ward Forum, this year. support other adults to get online. The pavilion on the corner of Noel Young people aged 12 to 18, can also Next Ward Forum Meeting Road and Eastfields Road, North Acton, benefit from the pavilion’s facilities opened to the public in the summer with the new North Acton Youth Club Wednesday 15 February, after a £80,000 refurbishment. providing Wii fit sessions and film 7.30-9.30pm nights on Thursdays from 7pm–9pm Acton Community Forum, which offers and Saturdays from 12noon–2pm. St Mary’s Church Hall, services and support to voluntary and The Mount Acton W3 9NW community groups, is running the

Go to www..gov.uk.uk/wardforum for meeting dates Outer Fund Acton money secured for the Controlled Parking Zones High Street Residents living in roads west of Horn Lane have supported joining the Friars Green Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). There was a 63% response in favour and work to extend the zone has begun and is due to be fully operational in the new year. Meanwhile, the majority of residents of The Drive supported the extension to the operating hours of the CPZ in their road. The Drive will now operate 8am - 6pm, Monday – Friday and will form a sub-zone within Friars Green CPZ. The council believes the effect of these extended hours on nearby roads will not be significant, however the

Concept image of Acton Vale Bridge zone’s operation will be kept The Authority Proposed projects include: under careful review. has awarded £500,000 to Acton • Feature lighting and community A review of Acton Central CPZ following a successful application artwork to brighten the area (Zone K) took place earlier made by Ealing Council in July. The underneath Acton Vale Bridge, by this year and the majority of money will be spent on a number Acton Central station. residents responded in favour of of improvements to the High Street reducing the operational hours. and its surrounding area. • Further improvement to Market Square, including a redesign of the As the zone falls within four The money is part of the £50million garden area of St Mary’s Church, The wards, council officers are Outer London Fund for improvements Mount finalising details with the to London’s high streets. respective councillors regarding • An artist has been commissioned to Exhibitions showcasing the proposed how much of the existing zone look at different ideas for public art schemes will be available on the will operate under reduced displaying Acton’s history following days: hours. Work will begin in the • High Street traders will also benefit, new year. Monday, 5 December with visual merchandising training Oak Tree Church, provided to 25 independent retailers High Street to improve their shop displays 4pm - 8pm • Aspiring local entrepreneurs will be Thursday, 8 December encouraged to start their business Oak Tree Church, ventures in Acton Market. With High Street grants and business support from 4pm - 8pm Action Acton, based in Crown Street Saturday, 10 December • Two busy road junctions off the High Acton Christmas Fair, Street at Lane and at The Mount Steyne Road are to be transformed 11am - 4pm. to enable safer pedestrian access and ease traffic congestion. Acton Baths closes as part of Town Hall regeneration

The council is helping existing members and user groups, such as schools and clubs, to find alternative facilities while the Baths are closed. And some of the centre’s activities, such as swimming lessons and fitness classes, will be moved to nearby leisure centres. While the building work is taking place, alternative swimming pools in Ealing include: • Gurnell Leisure Centre, Road East, Ealing, W13 0AL • Leisure Centre, Eastcote Lane North, Northolt, Acton Baths, Salisbury Street will close on 4 December. UB5 4AB The baths are due to re-open in Spring 2014 when it will • Dormers Wells Leisure Centre, Dormers Wells Lane, become part of the regenerated Acton Town Hall complex. , UB1 3HX The multi-million pound improvement project includes the provision of a new 25m swimming pool, a teaching pool, a large modern gym, a library, leisure facilities, community Alternative gyms in Ealing include: spaces and council offices. • Reynolds Sports Centre, Gunnersbury Lane, Acton, The entrance to the new swimming pools will be relocated W3 8EY to the Kings Room, Uxbdrige Road, while the façade of the Kings Room will remain unchanged. • Gurnell Leisure Centre, Ruislip Road East, Ealing, W13 0AL In October, a public meeting was held by users of Acton Baths to discuss the closure of the pool and the timetable • Northolt Leisure Centre, Eastcote Lane North, Northolt, for its redevelopment. The Leader of the Council, UB5 4AB Councillor Julian Bell and council officers attended the • Sports Centre, Lady Margaret Road, Southall, meeting to speak about the plans and for a question and UB1 2NP. answer session.

Acton Christmas Fair This year’s fair will be lots of family activities – including face painting and an held on The Mount, expandable nativity play in which all children can take in front of St Mary’s part, (costumes provided) plus carol singing and other Church on Saturday, entertainment. 10 December from The mayor of Ealing will also announce the winner and 11am to 4pm. runners-up of the Acton ‘Winter Wonderland’ Best A wide range of artists Dressed Window Competition. and craftspeople will And the event will be virtually weatherproof, with be selling their wares, everything under cover or in a large marquee. as well as community The organisers still have space available for stallholders: groups and charities, so there will be plenty • If you’re a commercial trader and would like a stall of opportunities to for a fee of £25, please contact Martyn Clarke at do your Christmas [email protected] or 07952 630 487. shopping. • If you’re a charity or community group and would like In addition, Santa will be in his grotto, giving out a free a stall. A £25 deposit is required, which is returnable present to each child who visits him. There will also be on the day, please contact Nancy Duin at nduin@ nancyduin.net or 020 8993 4294. What is a ward forum? Ealing Council is encouraging vulnerable residents to stay Ward forums are your chance to warm, and save money, this winter by finding out about 1 the help available to them. bring matters that affect you to the attention of the council. The forums are also an opportunity for Free insulation is available for homeowners or tenants the council to consult on projects renting from private landlords if they are in receipt of and policies affecting local people. income or disability related benefits or if they are aged Since ward forums started in over 60 and either retired or not in paid employment. To 2008, they have also delivered a find out more, call 0800 389 7286. range of improvements around the The Acton ‘Winter Wonderland’ Best-Dressed Window borough. Examples are: Competition is free to enter and is open to all • Community support – grants for 2 independent shops and businesses within the Acton community activities and events town centre boundary. The winner will receive £250 • Environmental improvements – news in brief worth of commercial refuse sacks or £250 towards private tree planting and renovations to commercial refuse collection. local monuments • Facilities for young people – new For more information, contact Andrea Laffey on equipment in play areas, Scout 020 8825 6312. hut improvements • Traffic and highways – traffic calming, cycling schemes ‘Us Girls’, is a ground-breaking initiative to get 30,000 young women more active, by providing them with fitness and sport • Parks and open spaces – fencing, opportunities. litter bins and flower beds • Community safety – alley gating, As part of the initiative, women-only Zumba sessions will be held additional street lighting every Tuesday and Thursday, 10am-11am at Oak Tree Community Ward Forums are now an Centre, Osbourne Road until January 2012. important part of the council’s If you are 16-25 years old and want to participate, call 020 8825 dialogue with its residents. coming up 6675 or text 07957 65 99 69.

Safer Neighbourhood Team Surgeries Acton Central 1st Sunday of every month, 12.30pm-1.30pm, St Mary’s www.met.police.uk/teams/ealing Church, The Mount, Acton High Street, London, W3 Tel: 020 8721 2921 9NW (except August and In an emergency always dial 999. In a non emergency call 0300 1212. December); Envirocrime 2nd Saturday of the month, 11am-12noon, Friary Park Tel: 020 8825 6000 Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Report it online at Community Centre, Joseph www.ealing.gov.uk Email: [email protected] for litter, Avenue, Acton, W3 6NL; abandoned vehicles flytipping, graffitti removal, and flyposting. 1st Saturday of the month, 11am-12noon, Acton Village Daniel Crawford (L) Gardening Association, The (020) 8992 9353 Your Neighbourhood Pavillion, Alwyn Gardens, [email protected] Co-ordinator London, W3. Kofi Nyamah Abdullah Gulaid (L) The Acton Labour Councillors (020) 8825 5173 Tel: 020 8825 5818 will take turns to attend [email protected] E: [email protected] a surgery every Saturday, 11am–12noon, Ruskin Hall, www.ealing.gov.uk/wardforum Patricia Walker (L) 16 Church Road, Acton, W3. (020) 8825 6377 [email protected] EC3624 Produced by Ealing Council Neighbourhood Governance Team. Printed on recycled paper. EC3624 Produced by Ealing Council Neighbourhood Governance Team. [email protected] • 020 8825 5818 • www.ealing.gov.uk