The residents' association is actively involved in matters that relate to the ongoing management of your estate.
Autumn 2008 Update
HANGER LANE BRIDGES
The long-running saga of the design of the replacement Hanger Lane bridges on the North Circular Road has now reached a satisfactory conclusion. Various local amenity and residents’ groups have been in discussion with TfL about the scheme for over five years. They were most concerned about the unimaginative ‘engineered’ design that was emerging and managed to persuade TfL to introduce more landscaping. to create a more colourful design of the parapets (picking up the red, white and green colours to be found in the neighbouring Ealing Village) and, most significantly of all, to fund £10,000 for public art in the vicinity of the old retained bridges which will be part of the landscaped area.
The sharp-eyed amongst you may have noticed that the former car showroom on the Webbs Nursery site has now closed and been replaced by plant and equipment which will be used for the construction of the bridge works. Also a new piece of green open space has appeared in Hanger Lane next to Inglis Road. This is the exchange land provided by TfL in compensation for the loss of land from Ealing Common as part of the scheme. The land will provide the first part of the proposed ‘green corridor effect’ planned for the replacement bridges scheme which is expected to be completed in 2011.
CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE
Councillor Phil Taylor, Portfolio Holder, Customer & Community Services, Borough of Ealing has been to see for himself the number of business permits that have been issued to West Africa House and acknowledges the problem in the vicinity of Hanger Lane. Following his visit, the businesses in West Africa House have been written to informing them that the matter has been investigated and most permits are being used for commuting, which is not what they are intended for, and not for business purposes. The businesses have also been informed that the Council will not renew any permits or issue any new permits until proper proof of their need has been received. In future the Council expects to issue only one or two permits to each business. However, it will take some time before residents notice an improvement as many permits have some months to go before expiry.
The Council has indicated that there might be scope for extending the double yellow lines in Connell Crescent which currently stop short of Ritz Parade but funding is not currently available to carry out any work.
HANGER HILL WARD FORUM
Responding to Government directives to involve local communities more in
decision-making, Ealing Council has set up a series of independently chaired forums in each Council Ward where residents and councillors can discuss local issues and needs (excluding planning). Wards will also each be allocated £40,000 a year to spend on local projects (subject to Councillors' final approval). Three meetings a year are planned.
The first meeting for the Hanger Hill ward was held on 13th October at the Church of the Ascension, chaired by Simon Reed. Over fifty people attended. Of specific local interest were the reports and discussion on policing and envirocrime. Suggested projects included trees, street furniture, footways and road surfacing.
The next two meetings will be on 8th December at Holy Family Church Hall, Vale Lane W3 and 16th March 2009 at the Brentham Club, Meadvale Lane W5.
SPRING 2008 update
Speed Control Measures
A series of speed checks was carried out in the 20 mph zone in Boileau Road and Corringway during September and October to determine the average speeds of cars during the rush hours. Although the analysis has not yet been completed it shows that most cars were travelling between 20-25 mph with only a small proportion at much higher speeds – up to 40 mph!
Roads and Pavements
1. The Hanger Hill CPZ review has taken place and was discussed by the Ealing Area Committee. Concern has been expressed that HHERA was not involved in the review, despite asking to be consulted. Members of your committee met with representatives of Ealing Council to discuss the various issues including problems arising from parking by Business permit holders from West Africa House at the Hanger Lane end of Ashbourne Road, dangerous parking in Connell Crescent near Ritz Parade and parking at Hanger Green. Ealing Council has undertaken to look into number of business permits issued but it is unlikely that much will happen in advance of a Borough-wide review of CPZs which is currently underway (closing date 31 December).
If you have any comments, please e-mail them to cpzreview@ealing.gov.uk.
2. The traffic bottleneck at the entrance to the Hanger Lane Gyratory system from the west-bound slip from Hanger Green has been raised with Transport for London. They explained that the junction is working at capacity in the rush hours with little scope for improvement other than through fine-tuning of the phasing of traffic lights.
3. Improvements to the junction of Queen’s Drive/Station Road are required in order to resolve the build-up of traffic, causing a hazardous and dangerous situation to both right and left turns. This matter has been put forward on the list of possible schemes for consideration in the Council’s 2008 works programme but unfortunately funding was not found for the work to be carried out.
4. Some residents felt that a number of speed control humps on the Estate were too harsh and should be reduced. Your committee has therefore organised for an engineer from Ealing Council to measure them and report back.
The engineer reported that when driving over the humps in Corringway, Ashbourne Road and The Ridings his driving experience was good when driving between 15-20 mph and they did not feel too harsh. Therefore, Ealing Council will not be carrying out any remedial work. If you agree the humps are too harsh please cast your vote on the website www.hhera.com under the News section.
5. Last year companies working out of West Africa House were asked to arrange for parking of their employees to be staggered along Ashbourne Road. Unfortunately, only one company took the trouble to respond and there has not been any obvious improvement since. We will be writing again to them.
Street Lighting
New street lighting will be installed on the estate in Beaufort Road early in the New Year. The lighting columns will be the same as used in Corringway. The Residents’ Association will be trying to save the old gas column at the corner of Beaufort Road and Corringway – a rare survivor from the early days of the estate – from replacement.
PLANNING - SEE ALSO HHERA CONSERVATION AREA WEBPAGE
The Hanger Hill (Haymills Estate) Conservation Area panel, which was set up by the Council to comment on planning applications in the conservation area, gives its views to the Council on all planning applications, which the Council does not have to follow. When commenting, the panel operates with reference to the Design Guide and points out where applications are not in accordance with the guide. Regrettably, many applications appear to have been drawn up without reference to the Design Guide, which is why the panel has to comment on so many applications. However, it has often said that it has no comments on applications or only minor amendments to suggest. The Residents' Association rarely comments on planning applications and those it does relate to those outside the conservation area, which are not referred to the panel such as the Royale Leisure Centre at Park Royal or applications in Boileau Road.
Click here to download information from Ealing Council on the Hanger Hill (Haymills) Estate Conservation Area
Click here to link to FAQs on all aspects of planning from Ealing Council