Ealing Borough Liberal Democrats

Mike Cox, former leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors in Hillingdon, has been selected by Ealing & Hillingdon Lib Dems to be their local candidate for the GLA elections on 3 May.

Mike was approved by Lib Dem members from both boroughs at a joint meeting in Ealing on Wednesday night.

A practicing chartered accountant,Mikehas lived in both boroughs and has two children, who both attended schools in Hillingdon.

Lib Dem Cllr Nigel Bakhai led calls for a cross-party campaign to save Ealing Hospital at the December meeting of Ealing Council. Cllr Bakhai suggested a joint letter to the Chief Executive of Ealing Hospital on behalf of all three political parties represented on Ealing Council to express their concern at the proposed merger between Ealing Hospital Trust and North West London Hospitals Trust.

A local park in Hanwell is to receive an extra £20,000 of funding thanks to Elthorne Lib Dem Councillor Nigel Bakhai.

King George's Field, a small park on the corner of St Mark's Road and Lower Boston Road, has been blighted by anti-social behaviour thorughout the year with both the Police and Fire Brigade regularly being called out to deal with fires, vandalism, and street drinkers in the area. Tacking the anti-social behaviour in King George's Field has been identified by the Elthorne Safer Neighbourhood Police as one of their three top priorities, and following a meeting Cllr Bakhai attended in August with members of Ealing Council's Parks and Community Safety teams, the council has installed CCTV next to the park which has reduced the number of incidents that have been reported to the local police.

The two derelict buildings on Southfield Recreation Ground have finally been demolished. The work was financed by S106 funds, where the local authority receives money from developers. Liberal Democrat Councillors campaigned to see the buildings, which have not been used for a large number of years, knocked down and grassed over.

At the last ward forum meeting, your Liberal Democrat Councillors allocated money for the following projects around Southfield:

• A consultation about installing lighting on Southfield Recreational Grounds.
• Study into road traffic concerns on both Cunnington Street and the junction of Larden Road and The Vale.
• Recycling bins at tube and rail stations and local bus stops.
• Alteration to the layout of the Beaconsfield Estate to reduce anti-social behaviour.
• Contributions to the Sunflower Senior Citizen's Club and also for W4 Youth Club.
• Planting a Wildflower meadow on Southfield Recreational Grounds near Wilkinson Way.
• Lighting for the alleyway between Woodstock Road and Warple Way.
• Installing two picnic tables in Acton Green Common and Southfield Recreational Grounds.

Despite opposition from residents and Liberal Democrat Councillors, Labour-run Ealing Council are to charge to have your garden waste collected.

Focus member Gary Busuttil said: "Labour will introduce a new tax on residents, despite the fact that households are already struggling at this time. This Garden tax will just add to the problem of illegal dumping and might reduce the overall recycling rates."

Julie Saunders, Chair of the Priory Community Association, met with Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Gary Malcolm, ahead of an important debate in Ealing Town Hall about Acton's Priory Centre.

Julie Saunders successfully spearheaded a campaign to get 1500 signatures that forces Ealing Council to debate the topic of the poor treatment that user groups at the Priory Centre have suffered, on Tuesday 18^th October. They want to ensure that Ealing Council finds them a place in Acton to stay while the Priory Centre is converted in a Primary School.

In his keynote speech to the Liberal Democrat Conference, Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined his goals for the Government and the country over the coming years. He reiterated his commitment to liberal values on the environment and human rights and his determination to ensure a fair chance for every child, saying "every child can do good things, great things, if only we give them the opportunities they deserve."

After many years (decades) of hard work involving himself in a large range of community activities, Liberal Democrat Tony Miller received the Ealing title of Honorary Freeman. This is the top title that can be bestowed on a resident by Ealing Council.

At the meeting Councillor Rose gave a snippet of entertaining stories and activities that Tony has spent much of his spare time doing, to help improve Ealing. Tony then made a speech thanking the Council for the award. He thanked his wife for all the support she has given him over many years of hard work.

The Ealing Liberal Democrat Council Group met with Ealing's Borough Commander to discuss the details of some cuts to local police (SNT) sergeants.

There have been a lot of concerns about the possibility that the local SNT teams, who have built a good relationship in the 23 wards in Ealing, will be moved to areas of high crime for long periods which will mean crime will rise in other areas as well as seeing public confidence reduced. The plans will mean that some wards will be paired and have one sergeant (not two).