HHERAnews - SPRING 2008

The newsletter of the Hanger Hill East Residents’ Association - addressing RESIDENTS’ needs & views

 

SPRING IS IN THE AIR… 

 Dear resident,

 Welcome to the Spring 2008 Newsletter of the esidents'                   Association.

 This year’s AGM will take place on Thursday 24 April at
 The Church of the Ascension in Beaufort Road. We are
 planning a small drinks reception before hand at 7pm,
 as a way of getting to know new residents and also
 meeting old friends. The formal business of the AGM will
 start at 7.45pm and elsewhere you will find information
 about this year's agenda, at which elections of the 2008/9
 committee will take place and further changes to the
 constitution will be discussed. See insert for formal
 notices and the nomination form for the committee. 

Our speaker will be Sgt Tahir Din, in charge of the Hanger Hill Safer Neighbourhoods Team, who will update us on the work of the police community support officers on the estate and talk about how you can protect yourself from criminal activities.  

During the year your committee has been dealing with traffic issues and, in particular, parking. The Council has decided not to install any further vehicle-actuated signs on the estate because they do not believe that the average speed of traffic warrants them. Instead, they will be installing one in Queens Drive probably in the vicinity of the Ellen Wilkinson School.  

More details of the ongoing work carried out by your committee, including planning and conservation matters, can be found in the Estate Matters section.


Outside the Residents’ Association area, the main news has been the proposal for redeveloping the Arcadia site in Ealing town centre. This was due to go to planning committee in late February but following strong criticisms from English Heritage, CABE (Commission for the Built Environment) and the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, the developers have been sent back to the drawing board. It is unlikely that any new plans will be considered much before the summer. However, the threat of comprehensive redevelopment has not gone away and we still need to remain vigilant. More details may be found on the website of Save Ealing’s Centre, to which the Association is affiliated, http://www.saveealingscentre.com/.

 I look forward to seeing as many as possible of you at the AGM.

Robert Gurd
Chairman HHERA
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SUBSCRIPTIONS

There is no formal subscription for membership of the Association but donations are welcome to cover expenses, such as the newsletter, hire of the hall for AGM etc. £5 per household should be sufficient for normal needs.

Please send your donation to The Treasurer, 48 Boileau Road W5 payable to Hanger Hill (East) Residents’ Association or log onto to www.hhera.com and follow links to pay via PayPal.

Thank you for your donation. 
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SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY  

On Saturday 17 May, the Church of the Ascension will be holding its tenth annual Spring Festival. The event gives the church an opportunity to open its doors to the whole community, offering a free ploughman's lunch, and a chance to browse stalls offering books and plants, and displays from local clubs and societies. Above all, as many people have discovered over the years, it's a chance to meet our neighbours in a relaxed setting.

The event is open to everyone, of all faiths or none, and the Ascension promises you a warm welcome.

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YOUR RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
PROCEDURE for Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday 24 April at the Church of the Ascension, Beaufort Road, with the agenda set out in the separate insert, which is available to download on the HHERA Annual General Meeting webpage - click on the right of this page.

It will be preceded by a social event consisting of drinks and canapés starting at 7 p.m.

The changes to the Constitution have been proposed by the committee following comments from residents at last year’s AGM and EGM. The changes they have proposed (which have been endorsed by your Committee) are set out in detail in the attached draft revised constitution - available on the HHERA Annual General Meeting webpage, click on the right of this page -but may be briefly summarised as follows: 

·          amplification of the objectives of the Association;

·          clarification of the words “special” and “extraordinary” meetings;

·          number of votes per household;

·          clarification of the arrangements for moving emergency motions;

•    consequential and other minor amendments. 

Nomination and election of committee 

Following the changes to the Constitution agreed last year, elections will be by a ballot of names submitted in advance of the meeting. A form for this purpose is elsewhere in this newsletter. Please note that any candidates need to be nominated and seconded by eligible residents of the Association and candidates should indicate their willingness to serve. All applications should be submitted to the Secretary by no later than 17 April to be considered for inclusion. Any names received after this date will not be eligible. 

Voting procedure 

Under the new constitution if there are more than 11 nominations and unless the Chairman considers otherwise, election of the committee will be by a paper ballot. Only those residents whose names appear in the published electoral roll or able to provide proof of identity and residency will be eligible to vote in the election. Residents will be able to cast up to a maximum of 11 votes: ballot papers containing more than this number of votes will be disqualified. The Association’s auditors will conduct the counting of votes and the result will be announced, time permitting, at the conclusion of proceedings.

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 PROPERTY WATCH

Japan Services believe that the property market for Haymills Estate properties will see an increase in activity this Spring, with prices continuing to rise. However, by the end of the year, prices will have stabilised. We foresee no reduction in prices in the coming months as demand continues to exceed supply.

If you are considering a sale, for a free valuation, please contact Mr PH Lai
of Japan Services on 020.8752 0445.
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hhera.com - Better, faster communication

If you haven’t already registered on line to join our mailing list, please do so at http://www.hhera.com/ - it’s quick and easy.

Rest assured, the printed version of HHERA News will continue for the foreseeable future.

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SAVE OUR POST OFFICE

Despite awarding themselves a £4.5 million bonus last year, Royal Mail executives have announced that 171 London Post Offices are soon to be closed. The Post Office on Boileau Parade, run by Haymills resident Mrs Immi Chadha, is one of those named for closure. This would leave Hanger Lane and West Acton as the nearest remaining Post Offices.

The Boileau Road shop is much valued by local people for its ease of parking and accessibility for business people based on the estate. However the biggest impact of its closure would be on the retired people living opposite in Balcon Court, some of whom have mobility problems, and many of whom do not have their own transport to go elsewhere.

On Friday 23 February, some thirty local people, many from Balcon Court, were photographed by the Ealing Gazette expressing their opposition to the closure. They were supported by constituency MP Andy Slaughter, vicar of the Parish, Simon Reed, and assisted by other local businesses.

HHERA encouraged all residents to add their voice to the call to keep this vital local amenity open by emailing our database and will keep you up-to date on future developments. We have also written to Mr Slaughter and to the Post Office objecting to the closure.
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‘THE THEATRE ON YOUR DOORSTEP’
45 YEARS OF THE BEAUFORT PLAYERS DRAMA GROUP

Close by, with tickets a lot cheaper than the West End, why travel into town to go to a theatre when you have one based almost on your doorstep in the Ascension Hall in Beaufort Road.  

The Beaufort Players Drama Group has come a long way since its formation in 1963. Then, sets had to be built from scratch; now we are still using flats built in those early days. Tickets, programmes and flyers had to be out-sourced; now we design and print them ourselves. Publicity meant the dreaded job of pushing around 1,000 leaflets through local doors; now we advertise our plays in other ways, including via our website at http://www.beaufortplayers.org.uk/. 

Over the years we have presented a wide variety of plays from farce to historical drama, both in the Ascension Hall and in the Church itself. We have gained many awards, both locally and at the Chalfont Drama Festival where last year, for the third year running, we won the ‘Best Original Play’ award. Another ‘home-written’ play gained a National play-writing award, appeared at this year’s Edinburgh fringe and was premiered in the United States. Finally, in November 2006, we had a near sell-out with our highly popular family show ‘Alice in Wonderland’. 

Our next production is Alan Bennett’s highly amusing adult play ‘Habeas Corpus’ on 24, 25 & 26 April. Tickets can be ordered on 07968 974335 or 020 8993 2532, or why not apply to go onto our Mailing List at mailing@beaufortplayers.org.uk.  

John Megson and his wife Irene, of Megson’s Chemist, Queens Parade, are to retire at the end of March, after 38 years in business.

 John, whose father was also a pharmacist, qualified in 1959 from the Chelsea College and served his apprenticeship at Lewis Pharmacy at Haven Green. He then managed Weston’s Chemist in New Broadway. He married Irene in 1964, and moved to Ealing soon after. In 1970, he bought the pharmacy, just off Hanger Lane, established since 1938 and known as H.E. Clarke Chemist. He has remained in the same house and same business ever since. 

John feels it is high time to put away his mortar & pestle and hand over the proverbial ‘tablets’ of pharmaceutical wisdom to the next generation. He wishes his successor, Dinesh Ganatra, all the best for the future. 

In retirement, John hopes to indulge his love of easy listening music, particularly light classical, jazz, big band and film music, and also spend time holidaying and trying out different cuisines.

John said, ‘I will miss the ‘village’ atmosphere and want to say a big ‘thank you’ to all my customers for their support and loyalty over the years.’ 

And so, for their long and dedicated service to the community for nearly four decades, HHERA says ‘thank you’ too and wishes the Megsons a very happy retirement.

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CALLING ALL QUIZZERS!

Hanger Hill now has a regular quiz night on Thursday evenings at Bar de Luce in Hanger Green. A fun night out with questions ranging from etymology to EastEnders with loads of trivia on the way. Great prizes and a rolling jackpot make this a very enjoyable evening and a great way to meet your neighbours. Come along and make a team. Quiz starts at 8 pm every Thursday.

Bar de Luce 8 Hanger Green W5 3EL 

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Did you know? 

This new regular feature will contain information about the area which new (and even some more long established) residents may not know. If you would like to contribute to this column please get in touch with the editor via www.hhera.com . 

Ritz Parade is named after the former Ritz Cinema which stood on the site from 1938 until 1983. The cinema was designed by Major William King for London & District Cinemas but became an Odeon cinema after the war. It ended its days as the Paradise Cinema showing Asian films. In between, it operated as a part-time bingo hall and a cinema club showing risqué movies. The entrance was in the centre of a parade of shops and was dominated by a large brick tower that had inlaid glass tiles which were lit from within and topped by a glass lantern light.
 

The cinema was demolished following a period of dereliction after it closed in 1980. No pictures of the interior are known but local residents plucked the old projectors and a few light fittings from the derelict building during the demolition process. It was replaced by Orbit House office block -- a rather featureless red brick affair which does no favours to the area. This building has now received planning permission to be converted into an apart-hotel.
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STAR TRAVEL LIMITED

Serving the local community for over 24 years, Star Travel is the perfect travel agency to organise all your travel requirements - and so convenient for residents of the Haymills Estate.

Offering extremely competitive prices with real personal service, simply pick up the phone, call in or book online to stimulate and satisfy your wonderlust.

Price, quality, style, comfort, peace are all bywords of our complete travel offering.
Star Travel, 3 Boileau Parade, W5 3AG
Tel: 020 8998 2931 www.startravel.co.uk
Email: info@startravel.co.uk

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HHERA ESTATE MATTERS

Speed Control Measures
 
We reported in the last newsletter that average speeds recorded in Boileau Road and Corringway did not greatly exceed the 20 mph limit, except for a few vehicles at much higher speeds. The Council has now decided that vehicle actuated signs (similar to that at the corner of Beaufort Road and The Ridings) in these roads would not be justified. However, they have agreed to install one in Queens Drive, near the Ellen Wilkinson School. Incidentally, two new signs have been installed in Madeley Road to remind drivers that a 20 mph limit applies there (although at the time of writing neither was working!). 

Street lighting 

New street lighting was installed in Beaufort Road earlier this year. As in Corringway, it has resulted in a much-improved standard of illumination and, as a useful bonus, has reduced the amount of spilled light into the environment. The former gas lamp at the corner of Beaufort Road and Corringway has been saved from replacement -- at least for the moment. Hanger Green has also been relit but it is not expected that any other roads on the estate will be relit much before the end of the year.

Controlled parking zone 

The Residents' Association responded to the Council's review of CPZs which took place last year. Our main complaint was about the problems created by the over-generous issue of business permits, particularly in the vicinity of Hanger Lane. We have yet to hear the outcome of the review. However, we have written again to the businesses in the vicinity asking them to remind their employees to spread their parking around the estate and not cluster around the estate roads at the end of Hanger Lane which can cause problems for residents. We have also been in touch with the Council about the shortage of residents' parking around Hanger Green and blockages caused by inconsiderate parking at the Ritz Parade end of Connell Crescent. The Council takes the view that there isn't a particular problem at Hanger Green and the balance of residents' and businesses parking is about right. However, they have undertaken to look into the possibility of extending the double yellow lines in Connell Crescent which currently stop short of Ritz Parade. Ashbourne and Ritz Parades were due to be included in the estate CPZ but the Council had to exclude them because they are private roads subject to separate parking controls operated by a private company.

Conservation matters

The Council's review of the Haymills Estate conservation area has now been completed. We understand that the consultation did not raise any major new issues and that the current design guide (see http://www.hhera.com/) has stood the test of time. However, it will be replaced by a new conservation area management document which will clarify and update information in the guide. This is expected to be considered by the Council’s Planning Committee in March after which the new guidance will take effect. More information can be found on the Council's website http://www.ealing.gov.uk/.

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH 

The Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and the new Beaufort Neighbourhood Watch group of residents met again in March to assess progress following restarting the scheme at the end of last year. They heard about the crime statistics on the estate (4 burglaries, 1 incident of criminal damage, 1 motor vehicle offence and 1 violent offence) and discussed ways of trying to reduce the incidence of crime. One of the ideas considered was introducing a patrol scheme similar to those operating in the USA.  Under these schemes, neighbours agree to patrol areas regularly in pairs to raise awareness of increased vigilance. This helps to deter potential criminals operating in the area and improve the perception of safety for everyone.  If you are interested in joining the scheme or participating in the patrol please contact the Hanger Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team (020 8721 2947) or Saz Vora (sazvora@hotmail.com, tel 020 8998 4993) the local coordinator. All are welcome to attend the next Neighbourhood Watch meeting: Wednesday 4th June at 8pm, venue tba  

There are two other schemes in operation in the HHERA - Hanger Vale Neighbourhood Watch and Ashbourne Neighbourhood Watch. The former covers Boileau Road, run by PCSO 7276XB Turner; the latter covers Hanger Green and the houses and flats at the top of The Ridings and should be up and running soon.

 

AUTUMn/WINTER 2007/9 Newsletter

Challenging times for Ealing town centre

Dear resident

I am very pleased to report that following the election of the 2007/8 committee at the resumed AGM at the end of May the new committee has now met three times and discussed various issues of interest to the estate. These are dealt with in greater detail elsewhere but in a sense they have since been eclipsed by publication of details of the biggest redevelopment plan to hit Ealing since the town centre was last redeveloped in the early 1980s. I am of course talking about the proposed redevelopment at the Arcadia Centre, central Ealing. The most striking feature is the 40 storey (143m) tower designed by Foster + Partners on the eastern side of the development opposite the station. However, it is easy to overlook the rest of the development which in its own way presents just as important challenges, in particular the various other towers up to 15 storeys in height, not to mention the large amount of retail in the base of the development. There is no evidence that the amount of development now proposed can be supported by the existing infrastructure whether physical such as utilities and transport or that required to meet the needs of the occupants such as health and education facilities. We have joined with a number of central Ealing residents’ associations in an alliance called Save Ealing’s Centre which has been formed specially to fight the development as it currently stands.

If you are as concerned about this redevelopment as we are, please lend your support to the Alliance - -more details are on their website http://www.saveealingscentre.com.  

The other important issue to report is the long-awaited review of the conservation area. This started in September when one of Ealing's conservation officers asked the Association and the conservation area panel for comments on how the existing conservation area controls came into being and operated and their views on how they could be improved or changed in other ways. These comments have been submitted and the next stage will be the drafting of an appraisal together with a management plan which will be sent out for consultation to residents next year. You will then have an opportunity to comment on the proposals before they are considered by the Council's Planning Committee. Examples of similar appraisals and management plans for other conservation areas can be found on Ealing Council's website. These show that the appraisals are generally historical documents setting out the origins of the areas concerned and how they have been affected by development over the years. The management plans tend to be more forward-looking and make proposals (usually tentative to judge from other examples) for changes in the extent of the conservation area or the nature of the controls.

A review of the routine business undertaken by your Residents’ Association is included elsewhere in this newsletter. 

I also hope to meet many of you at the New Year social event which is being planned, details of which are announced elsewhere in this issue. 

Finally, may I wish you advance compliments of the season.

Robert Gurd
Chairman HHERA

Your Residents’ Association

Changes to the Constitution
Following ideas and suggestions made at the AGM, further changes to the constitution of the Residents’ Association have been proposed and were considered and developed by a small working party. Areas to covered included the number of votes per household, clarification of the period of notice for relevant meetings, clarification of the words ‘special’ and ‘extraordinary’ meetings, and the calling of an emergency meeting.

Further work will be undertaken during the next couple of months and any proposed amendments will be communicated to all residents and ultimately be considered and ratified at the next AGM of the Association.

Crime on the Estate
Crime on the estate was discussed and consideration was given to the reactivation of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. It was agreed to contact the appropriate Community Support Officers to request reactivation of the scheme.

On the 4^th December the Safer Neighbourhood Team and some interested residents met to restart the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. There is still a need to raise the profile of the Neighbourhood Watch on the Estate and your help is needed to do this. Would you be interested in joining us? Please contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team (020 8721 2947) or Saz Vora (020 8998 4993) local co-ordinator.

Social Events
Following requests by some residents the Committee is looking into ways of
welcoming new residents to the estate and of increasing contact, friendship
and understanding among the people of many different cultures who already
live here.  To this end we are seeking to hold a local social event in 2008.
Your Committee would welcome your help in two ways.
(1) Please tell us what sort of event you would like to see take place.
(2) Please tell us if you would be willing to be one of the helpers who
plans the event and puts it on.
Send your ideas and offers of help via the website or mail@hhera.com.

THE ARCADIA CENTRE

 

Thank you to those residents who attended the packed public meeting in the town hall on 27 November. Over 350 people heard the developers attempting to defend the size and scale of their development. Most people seemed unconvinced by their arguments that this was an opportunity that Ealing should not turn away. We hope that the developers will have registered the strong message from the overwhelming majority of those in the hall that there massive development was unwelcome and was not right for Ealing. If you feel strongly about this development, make sure that you sent your comments to the Council’s Planning Department. Keep in touch with announcements by going to Save Ealing's Centre's web site on www.saveealingscentre.com , which will also help you with commenting on the application.

SUBSCRIPTIONS 

There is no formal subscription for membership of the Association but donations are welcome to cover expenses, such as the newsletter, hire of the hall for AGM etc. £5 per household should be sufficient for normal needs. Please send your donation to The Treasurer, 48 Boileau Road W5 payable to Hanger Hill (East) Residents’ Association or log onto to www.hhera.com and follow links to pay via PayPal. Thank you for your donation.

hhera.com
Better, faster communication

The HHERA website - hhera.com - now has a HHERA Residents’ Forum page that enables all residents to leave appropriate messages for all residents to view and express relevant opinions. Your Residents’ Association welcomes your ideas and comments but would ask that all comments posted to be considered and not abusive in anyway. If we feel that any comments that are left are inappropriate, they will be removed without notice.

f you haven’t already registered on line to join our mailing list, please do so at www.hhera.com - it’s quick and easy.

Rest assured, the existing printed version of the HHERA News will continue for the foreseeable future.

PLANNING MATTERS

Many residents in the Haymills Estate conservation area seek advice about window replacements. The Design Guide strongly recommends repair/upgrading of existing wooden or metal windows where possible and we can provide details of contractors specialising in this area of work. But if replacement is absolutely necessary, the Council is strongly encouraging replacement with similar materials to the original. Following recent cases involving residents and suppliers, the Council has agreed that original steel windows in post-war houses can be replaced by identical aluminium windows. Steel like-for-like replacement windows (readily available in single or double glazed versions) are strongly recommended for pre-war houses. Remember that planning permission is required for replacement of windows on street elevations otherwise there is a risk of enforcement action being taken by the Council. More details are available on our website www.hhera.com.

The LIFE AND TIMES of BOILEAU ROAD
by Michael Black

Go back more than 100 years, to August 13, 1904, and stand outside North Ealing Station. The station, built on the site of Hanger Lane Farm, is just over a year old and was opened last June by the Metropolitan District Railway for its line to South Harrow. Around you are fields, though you can make out the newish houses in Madeley Road and a few at the southern part of Hanger Lane – but this is mostly a country lane leading up to the Hanger Hill woodlands. A motorcar chugs up the hill towards the wood, watched by a solitary stroller taking a short rest under the trees, on the wooden fence edging the road. About 50 yards right ahead of you is another line of trees – could they be oaks? – and a few grazing cows, and beyond, the boundary of the golf course. You have brought along that day’s Middlesex County Times and you open it at page 5, where the death of Edward Wood in Shropshire is reported. The Wood family, since the late 1700s, has owned a great amount of land in Ealing and Acton, more than 700 acres, and with Edward’s death the estate will fall to the surviving, younger son, Charles Peevor Boileau Wood: Charles’ mother was Isabella Annie Boileau, of Ealing, hence this part of his name. The Boileau family in England and Ireland were prominent Huguenot refugees of the 17^th century. 

Go forward now to 1906. Charles has sold the land that you looked over in 1904 making way for its development for residential purposes. The first road is soon planned and to mark the original landowner it is registered as Boileau Road, continuing the practice of naming roads in Ealing after the Wood family. The line of trees that was there in 1904 will have to be sacrificed, as they lie almost on the route of Boileau Road, which will run parallel to the railway track.

Boileau Road first enters the records in the street directory for 1912, but it is likely that it existed in 1911 when data were collected. The builders did most of their early work on the western side of the road (the odd numbers): so by 1912 numbers 1-27 were inhabited, and only the solitary number 2 on the other side. Numbers 2-18 were occupied by 1913 but there had been no further construction on the ‘odd’ side. Houses were gradually added and occupied - except in the last years of the Great War and immediately afterwards when there was a break for two years - until all houses were built and with residents in 1923/24. 

At the Hanger Vale Lane end, the road departed from the line of the railway to leave a plot of land on which lock-up garages were erected in 1924/25. Attention shifted back to the station end of the road when a large building was put up, listed in 1927 as The Ealing Car Agency (on the site of the present Balcon Court).

 A firm of builders, Kendalls, erected the garages, and possibly also was responsible for the whole of the road. Several features of the Edwardian houses, many of which survive, indicate that the homes were intended for gentlemen and gentlewomen of the middle classes. The halls of most houses had ceramic tiles, and in the larger, older houses, rather impressive columns. Pattern books or catalogues were in vogue in 1910 from which prospective house buyers could choose tiles, stained glass and fireplaces. Indeed, some existing fireplaces in the houses are very similar to ones shown in the books: so it is possible that house fittings were at least partly customised to the owner's choice. Each living room had a bell-push by the fireplace, which, with the one for tradesmen by the back gate, was linked with a cabinet of bells mounted on the kitchen wall. Here worked the servant, ready to be summoned by bells, to attend to the requirements of the master or mistress, and to take delivery from the coalman at the back door. Residents were predominantly professionals – engineers, teachers, musicians, and at least one writer.

 In its history, Boileau Road has had its adrenalin boosted by danger and excitement. At about 2.30 am on September 26, 1942, a bomb fell on number 94 but fortunately it failed to explode: there was some damage but no casualties. Later in that year, in early morning of November 14, a land mine exploded in mid-air over the station end of Boileau Road, slightly damaging several houses and blowing out the windows in Queens Parade shops. Almost exactly forty-five years on, in October 1987, Boileau Road was struck again, this time by the storm which tore along the road, uprooting almost all the lime trees that had stood for 60 years and more. Many houses and cars were damaged but one positive outcome was that residents were united in their horror of the disaster and exchanged words for the first time, even though they had been neighbours in the road for many years. Thus adversity makes brothers and sisters of us all!

 The building of Boileau Road therefore initiated residential development in the area. Shortly after it was finished, in 1926 the freeholder Charles Wood sold the remainder of his Hanger Hill estate to Haymills Limited who started building (at the Hanger Lane end of Corringway) in 1928. The old golf clubhouse was pulled down in 1930, the club was wound up, and the Haymills Estate burgeoned. And just as Boileau Road was there at the birth of the Estate, it now sustains it, its bloodstream as it were, as its major point of entry and exit to the rest of Ealing.

 EAT YOUR FILL IN HANGER HILL 

Residents of the Hanger Hill Estate who want to buy food cooked for them don’t have far to go to find a restaurant or takeaway. A medley of eating places is found on the borders of the estate – Queens Parade/Boileau Road, Hanger Green and Ashbourne Parade. Here, you’ll be able to satisfy all your tastebuds, with food and flavours from Italy, India, Bangladesh, Japan, China and Iran. You may never again want to go to The Ivy or Gordon Ramsay’s. Here’s a selection of what’s on your doorstep. 

Villa Toscana – Italian
Great atmosphere, serving full range of Italian dishes from pizza to pasta and much more – a gem of a restaurant.
5 Boileau Parade – 020 8991 9900

Zeera – Bangladeshi
Queens Parade – 020 8997 0210

Bar De Luce – Café/bar for a glass of wine, beer or cappuccino. A wide selection of light meals available at lunchtime.
8 Hanger Green – 020 8566 8016

Paolo’s – Italian
A Hanger Green institution – magic too!
7 Hanger Green – 020 8997 8560
http://www.paolosrestaurant.co.uk/

Farshad - Iranian
13 Ashbourne Parade – 020 8998 9080

L’Orient - Indian
Well-established Indian restaurant with fabulous Sunday buffet. Takeaway available.
8  Hanger Green – 020 8991 1966

Momo – Japanese
14 Queens Parade – 020 8997 0206

Property Market Review By Derek Grimshaw 

The market started off with a bang this year and a number of sales have been achieved through this office in the following roads; Corringway (5), Beaufort Road, East Close, Chatsworth Road (2) The Ridings and Heath Close. 

Although the pace has slackened in recent weeks, there is still a good demand and a recent sale in Audley Road attracted 14 offers. If you are thinking of selling, please contact Derek Grimshaw FRICS or John Pridham RD, FRICS on 020 8992 5661 or sales@grimshawhomes.co.uk.
http://www.grimshawhomes.co.uk/

HHERA ESTATE MATTERS

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.

WEBSMART

Every issue, we will be asking a local resident to recommend their top websites that offer useful links. Darshak Raja suggests the following:

www.ealingtoday.co.uk - online resource for our area, the site for property, restaurants , shops and information on the community

www.news.bbc.co.uk - BBC Newsline headline ticker will automatically update throughout the day with the latest news, sport, travel, finance and weather from the BBC.

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikipedia - An online collaborative encyclopedia ( UK version)

www. imdb.com - The Internet movie database features plot summaries, reviews, cast lists, etc.

www.met.police.uk/ealing - Ealing Borough Police homepage.

www.mahalo.com - Mahalo is the world’s first human-powered search engine.
www.50connect.co.uk - 50Connect is a content-led lifestyle portal for today’s over 45s.

www.howstuffworks.com - HowStuffWorks is the leading source of credible, unbiased and easy-to-understand explanations of how the world actually works.

Feel free to email your favourite sites to mail@hhera.com

 

HHERA NEWS SPRING 2007

The Hanger Hill (East) Residents’ Association was originally set up with the clear aim, as stated in our constitution, ‘to serve and protect the interests of the residents of the Hanger Hill Estate and to protect, improve and further the amenities of the Estate’ - principles and objectives which we have adhered to over the years with success. A residents’ association is not about one individual’s needs and concerns but those of all residents. Achieving a balance is paramount and I believe we have achieved that balance, together with tangible and long-lasting results, over many years. 

I need hardly remind any member that the protection our estate enjoys, particularly the Conservation Area, keeps it a pleasant one, as well as enhance our property values.

Therefore, to have to write that 2006 was a challenging year for your Committee is both sad and exciting. 

Sad because your Committee has been faced with unprecedented pressure after a group of residents who now identify themselves as  ‘Representatives/residents of Haymills Estate’ attempted unsuccessfully to move a resolution at the 2006 AGM and the meeting had to be later suspended. 

Exciting because your Committee has tried hard over the months since the AGM to communicate with, and ultimately reflect, that group’s views within a constitutional framework. 

This unfortunately has not been achievable in the way that your constitution demands. HHERA must, and does, work within the parameters set down in its constitution and the ambitions of any group of residents must be considered within that accepted framework.

With the AGM in April 2006 suspended due to the disruption caused on voting for a new committee, the Committee, which was properly elected in 2005, had no option but to continue in office. The residents who moved the resolution, having claimed a new committee had been elected - a fact that is demonstrably untrue - has subsequently questioned this decision.

The elected members of the committee have made several attempts to resolve this problem, and has also endeavoured, over a long period, to discuss this impasse and reach a constitutional way forward with the movers of this resolution.
Regrettably, their wishes and ambitions, some of which were considered unreasonable, could not be accommodated.

Due to the time taken up by these discussions, it was impossible to reconvene the AGM in 2006 and I received no objections from residents to my suggestion in the Autumn newsletter that it should be reconvened early in 2007. Throughout, your Committee was resolved to ensure that the views of one group of residents should not unduly prevail over those of the majority, who were confused at the AGM by what they saw going on around them on an estate where neighbours had hitherto lived together in accord. 

In order for the democratic process to properly take place, the existing constitution, which never foresaw this state of affairs, will have to be revised to prevent a repetition of the events at the last AGM. This entails amendments to limit committee numbers and introduce a proper voting procedure with safeguards to prevent abuse.  Only when these amendments are in place can a democratic election of a new committee take place, allowing all residents the opportunity to express their views.  I urge all residents to attend a special meeting on 19 April 2007 – details of which are available at the HHERA EGM web page or click here  to download - to consider the proposed revised constitution, which will be followed immediately by the 2007 AGM, at which a new committee will be elected.

Robert Gurd
Chairman

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YOUR RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION: PROCEDURE for EGM & AGM

Extraordinary (Special) General Meeting

Following a resolution received from a group of residents, an Extraordinary (Special) General Meeting will be held at 7.30 p.m on Thursday 19 April with the single agenda item to consider changes to the Constitution (see HHERA AGM and HHERA EGM web pages or click here  to download a printable version of the EGM/AGM notices and agendas). 

The changes to the Constitution have been proposed by a small working party consisting of some members of the existing committee and of residents who volunteered following an appeal in the Autumn newsletter.  The changes they have proposed which have been endorsed by your Committee, are set out in detail in the enclosed draft revised constitution but may be briefly summarised as follows:

• maximum number of committee members is 11;
• institution of the post of vice-chairman;
• eligibility of residents to vote;
• voting procedures;
• changes to the arrangements calling for an Extraordinary (Special) General Meeting;
• consequential and other minor amendments.

Residents attending the EGM will be asked to vote on these changes which, if agreed, should allow for the arrangements for the running of meetings, in particular the AGM, in order to prevent a repetition of the disruptive events in April 2006 when an excessive number of names of potential members of a new committee were put forward.

Annual General Meeting

Immediately after the Extraordinary (Special) General Meeting, the 2007 AGM will be convened to discuss the agenda. (See HHERA AGM and HHERA EGM web pages or click here  to download a printable version of the EGM/AGM notices and agendas.)

Nomination & election of committee

If the changes to the Constitution above are agreed, it is envisaged that elections will be by a ballot of names submitted in advance of the meeting.  A form for this purpose is enclosed in this newsletter.  Please note that any candidates need to be nominated and seconded by eligible residents of the Association and candidates should indicate their willingness to serve.  All applications should be submitted to the Secretary by no later than 12 April to be considered for inclusion. Any names received after this date will not be eligible. (Click here  to download a printable version of the nomination form.)

Voting procedure

Under the revised constitution, unless the Chairman considers otherwise, election of the committee will be by a paper ballot.  Only those residents whose names appear in the published electoral roll or are able to provide proof of identity and residency will be eligible to vote in the election.  Residents will be able to cast up to a maximum of 11 votes: ballot papers containing more than this number of votes will be disqualified.  The election and counting will take place before and during the intermission.  The Association’s auditors plus 2 observers will conduct the counting of votes and the result will be announced at the conclusion of proceedings.

Intermission Drinks Reception

As the votes are being counted, drinks and canapés will be served to give everybody the chance to relax and meet and greet old and new friends. Your residents’ association is not only about the formal things of life!

19 April 2007 at 7.30pm is an important date for your diary, please attend.
Your vote counts!

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SUBSCRIPTIONS
There is no formal subscription for membership of the Association but donations are welcome to cover expenses, such as the newsletter, hire of the hall for AGM etc. £5 per household should be sufficient for normal needs. Please send your donation to 60 Beaufort Road, Ealing W5, payable to Hanger Hill (East) Residents’ Association or click on HHERA Subscriptions/Donations on the right of any web page to make a donation now via PayPal. It’s easy, quick and secure. Thank you for your donation.

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hhera.com
Better, faster communication

Whilst we hope that you are enjoying the new look HHERA News, your residents’ association has been working on a new, dedicated website. This will allow us to communicate with all residents in a faster, more efficient way with regular updates on those matters that may affect you.

We are also developing our database of email addresses, which will be kept strictly confidential, to enable us to email the newsletter directly to you and also, where necessary, alert you to anything important that will not wait until the next issue of the newsletter. 

Please register on line now to join our mailing list. It’s quick and easy, simply complete the boxes on the right of any web page. 

Rest assured, the existing printed version of the HHERA News will continue for the foreseeable future.

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USE or ORNAMENT?
The reality of the conservation area.

The area of the HHERA includes a variety of styles of domestic architecture and habitation. We have the Edwardian houses of Boileau Road built just before and after the first world war, the 1930’s houses of Connell Crescent, the apartment blocks such as Gilbert Court and Thackeray Court constructed in the mid-1960 to mid-1970 period, and the distinctive Haymills Estate. As a conservation area, the last merits special discussion.

Many people living on the estate may not be aware of its architectural importance.  Although its origins lay in a builder's (Messrs Haymills) speculative development, it is now regarded as a remarkable example of enlightened town planning.  Built on the site of Hanger Hill golf club, the Haymills estate was designed around the hillside retaining mature trees where possible with striking views from many areas.  Land for the all-important station was given free of charge by Haymills to London Transport and a new tube station at Park Royal was designed by the estate architects. Development of houses started in 1928 in Corringway and continued until World War II when building stopped for the duration of the war. The estate's architects were Herbert Welch, Felix Lander and Nugent Cachemaille Day whose background lay in the garden city movement.  This is evident from some of the house styles many of which have faint echoes of early 20^th century garden suburbs such as Welwyn and Hampstead. 

House designs ranged from those with ultramodern flat roofs (originally not very popular) to traditional mock-Tudor styles with prices ranging from £1500-2000! Building restarted in the early 1950s using simplified versions of the pre-war house designs.  The development was finally completed in the 1960s with only infilling of the few spare plots subsequently.

The estate has always been sought after for its open spaces, hillside setting and quality of design and construction.  The spacious layout of the estate meant that many houses could readily be enlarged but changes in the late 1980s threatened the original character of the estate with very large extensions and increasing loss of original features such as doors and windows.  Eventually the Council undertook a consultation with residents on designation of the estate as a conservation area with extra controls over front elevations as a means of preserving important original features.  The consultation was overwhelmingly in favour of the formation of a conservation area.  The estate was designated a conservation area in 1996 which has helped to preserve its character whilst allowing changes in keeping with the original house styles.  It is this character which still makes the estate one of the most highly sought after in Ealing and, as confirmed by local estate agents, helps to maintain the value of our houses.

In the next issue of HHERA News, we will take a look at the history of Boileau Road.

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Haymills Property Market 
The beginning of 2007 has seen a very active market for sales and lettings, with demand outstripping supply and substantial price rises.  Continuing price rises since last year seem too good to last and we strongly advise those who are thinking of selling to take advantage of this golden window of opportunity. History tells us that when prices reach a new peak, the market is easily de-stabilised by bad news and the market then goes into reverse. Demand for rentals is also very strong and we see this continuing for several years as economic recovery continues in Japan.                       

Japan Services Ltd

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BEAUTY BONANZA
Best Summer Home Beauty Buys
With the Summer fast approaching, the need to look your best is paramount. Here are my top tips for products for men and women, available on-line, that offer professional, salon style results in easy-to-use home kit formats.

ShapeChangers – this celebrity-style 1-hour inch-loss and detox wrap has been the darling of beauty salons and is now available as a home kit. Lose measurable inches from hips, waist, legs or tums ready for the beach, or get back into shape after your holiday blow-out!  The wrap draws toxins out of the body, leaving you slimmer, firmer and smoother.
£39.99 for 8 treatments
Available: http://www.shapechangers.co.uk/

I-Bod Airbrush Instant Tanning System – a safe, flawless, touchfree tanning system which gives a gorgeous, natural-looking, all-over tan – any time, any place, anywhere thanks to its rechargeable battery. The spray comprises a fine mist which dries completely in 5 -10 minutes, and a new LED light feature shows where tan solution is spraying to ensure streak-free application.  You can also adjust intensity levels to suit different skin tones or parts of the body.   The tan develops in 4-5 hours and lasts 7-10 days.
£39.99 for 32 applications
Available: http://www.thebrandcollection.com/

Mary Osman – MD Hair & Beauty, 10 Hanger Green W5 3EL
020 8997 8546
http://www.mdhairandbeauty.co.uk/
 

WIN AN I-BOD as recommended in BEAUTY BONANZA.
Simply e-mail I-BOD with your name and address
to mail@hhera.com  to be entered into our free prize draw.

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GRAHAM  FOWLER
Because of the extra workload created by the events of the last nine months, Graham Fowler reluctantly decided to resign at the end of 2006 from both the Residents’ Association Committee and the Conservation Area Panel.  I should like to pay tribute to Graham who has served as secretary and member of the panel since 1996 and has a deep knowledge of the estate and showed a remarkable willingness to serve the community. My thanks go to Michael Black (Boileau Road) who kindly agreed to take over as Secretary until the next AGM.
Robert Gurd - Chairman

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My Hanger Green

Paolo Oddi, restaurateur and Hanger Green trader for over 30 years, reflects on the changing face of retailing on the Haymills Estate.

I first started my business in Hanger Green in 1977, almost 30 years ago to the day, when I bought Steve’s Café. The café was open from 6 a.m. in the morning until late afternoon and served everything from traditional English breakfasts to sandwiches. The queue for our freshly made sandwiches at lunchtime went from the door to the counter in those days, as we served a range of customers from companies such as Coca-Cola, Unigate and Guinness – many sadly no longer in the area!

Hanger Green had a vibrant mix of traders which included Cullen’s the grocers, a chemist, a family butchers, Snellgrove’s the florist, a men’s outfitters and barber shop, Tyson Chambers the hairdressers, Campbell Symonds, a petrol station and garage (now Boden) and on the corner a furriers!

The Park Royal Hotel was the centre of eating and entertainment in those days and operated a silver service restaurant with a grand piano and pianist playing in the bar. How times have changed!

It wasn’t until 1982, that I eventually opened Paolo’s Ristorante. The whole process was fraught with difficulty because in those days Haymills controlled the tenant mix with a rod of iron and The Park Royal Hotel was then the only licensed premise on the estate. After much negotiation with Courage, who then operated the pub, and a hefty premium, I eventually got my licence and Paolo’s, as we know it today, opened for business.

I ran the restaurant with my wife Rina for 25 years and eventually handed over to my son Stefano, who continues what I believe to be a local tradition. The menu has changed over the years but still holds fast many Italian classics that make for a family-run restaurant.

Stefano has also added table magic to the menu, which is hugely popular with all ages!

I have enjoyed long and enduring friendships with many of my customers and particularly enjoy the summer afternoons when I can sit outside and chat to them as they walk by. I have seen my customers’ children grow up and then bring their families to eat with us – still enjoying a timeless Spaghetti Bolognese, now followed by a more fashionable Tiramisu!

Times and traders have changed but there is still a great fellowship between the shops and we all support each other whenever we can. Boden has added great vitality to the area and it is interesting to see the number of Boden’s bags and shoppers, especially on Sundays – even the fish and chip shop now opens on Sunday with the increased trade, while other shoppers enjoy the fabulous Indian buffet at L’Orient We all rely on our local residents to stay in business and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me for the last 30 years.

Here’s to the next 30 years!  Salute! 

Paolo’s Ristorante
7 Hanger Green W5
020 8997 8560
http://www.paolosrestaurant.co.uk/

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WEBSMART - local links

Every issue, we will be asking a local resident to recommend their top websites that offer useful links to the community. Margaret Martin suggests the following: 

Church of the Ascension- www.churchoftheascension.org.uk

Ealing Arts – www.ealingarts.org.uk  - drama music and leisure in Ealing

Ealing Civic Society – www.ealingcivicsociety.org

Ealing Council – www.ealing.gov.uk for full menu of services

Ealing National Trust Assn. – www.ealingnt.org.uk  - how to join and a full programme of events and lectures.

Ealing U3A – www.ealingu3A.org.uk - how to join and current programme

Save Ealing Streets – www.ealingstreets.org.uk

St.Mary’s Perivale – www.st-marys-perivale.org.uk  - lively art centre serving Ealing

Transport for London – www.tfl.gov.uk - for full information on all forms of transport 

Feel free to email your favourite sites to mail@hhera.com. We are particularly keen to hear from younger residents with their ideas!

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Robert Gurd – Chairman
60 Beaufort Road W5 3EA
020 8998 4417
Michael Black – Secretary
102 Boileau Road W5 3AJ
020 8997 5503
mail@hhera.com 

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