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working to preserve and improve our borough

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Ealing Civic Society was established in 1967 when many of our founding members were closely involved with local residents’ associations in opposing the Council’s radical plans to re-develop the centre of Ealing. We are not connected with any political party or the Council.

We are working to preserve and improve our borough, in the following areas:
• Conservation
• Green spaces
• Licensing
• Design
• Heritage
• Planning
• Regeneration
• Streetscape
• Transport

 

ealing civic society plaqueDICKENS YARD
The application for a judicial review was heard at a preliminary High Court hearing in early July. Unfortunately, the judge found that there were no grounds for a review, although he did grant leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal. He did not accept that insufficient account had been taken by the planning committee of the impact of the development upon conservation areas or on the listed Town Hall. Nor did he consider that the departures of the development from the original design brief for the site were sufficient to justify judicial review. In doing so, he accepted the council's argument that subsequent changes to the London Plan justified the departures. Although the applicant (Tony Elley - a member of Save Ealing’s Centre) is entitled to appeal, he has decided not to pursue his case further and SEC has insufficient resources to take it over.
     We still think that the plans represent too dense a development which could potentially harm both the setting of the listed Town Hall and Christ the Saviour Church - a view shared by English Heritage. But now that the legal hurdles have been cleared St George are free to move forward with the development. Already there are signs of renewed activity with the recent closure of the main car park. We and SEC will be checking closely the way in which the scheme proceeds to ensure that it is built in accordance with the permitted plans.

northala fieldsEX-EMPIRE CINEMA
The former Empire Cinema site remains cleared except for the facade with its supporting scaffolding and an unsightly pile of rubble at the rear. There has been some movement on the future of this site. It seems as if the recession has taken its toll on the original plans of Empire Cinemas (owned by an Irish cinema chain) and work was stopped in its tracks following demolition of all but the façade in early 2009. The Council, to its credit, has served a ‘completion notice’ on Empire Cinemas but it is not clear whether this will force their hand. In any case the notice is just the start of what could be a lengthy legal process. Ultimately the Council could buy the site by compulsory purchase if Empire Cinemas do not proceed but it is not clear where the money would come from. There are unconfirmed rumours that Empire are trying to sell the site to another operator. We would support this if it enabled the proposed cinema development to go ahead.
Empire Photo: © Kevin R Boyd

Ealing PlaqueSEND US YOUR NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2010 AWARD
If you would like to nominate a building or environmental project for its good design, landscaping or service to the community of Ealing please send in the form on our Awards page.


What’s going on at Gunnersbury?
A walk and talk led by James Wisdom, Chairman of the Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum. More

sikh gurdwara detail
sikh gurdwara
pitzhanger
ealing town hall
brooke coombes
hoover building