Ealing Borough Liberal Democrats

Ealing Liberal Democrats have launched a petition to get the Council and the Mayor of London to make a commitment for a fully integrated public transport interchange at Ealing Broadway.

The present station is no longer fit for purpose, say the Lib Dems. Rebuilding it for Crossrail is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make it a proper interchange we can be proud of, with step-free access for passengers to move freely between trains, tubes, buses and taxis.

Ealing Council has withdrawn its proposal to reduce the information given to neighbours about planning applications which might affect them, by stopping notification by post.

Cllr Andrew Steed, Lib Dem member of the Committee which is responsible for overseeing the Council's regulation functions, and who was active in opposing the move, said: "This is a small but significant victory for the principle that the Council must keep the public properly informed about matters of concern to them."

Crossrail's latest design proposals for Ealing Broadway station would delay the station completion by at least two years and downgrade the planned station by removng the three planned escalators and two new footbridges planned across the tracks.

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the London Assembly Liberal Democrat Group and Vice Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee came to Ealing Broadway last week to see for herself what this could mean for Ealing Broadway station.

Councillor Jon Ball, Lib Dem Councillor for Ealing Common ward, and parliamentary campaigner said: "The rebuilding of Ealing Broadway for Crossrail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build the proper transport interchange that Ealing needs.

Crossrail's initial plans were inadequate so for Crossrail to now downgrade their plans are totally unacceptable. I will be moving a motion at next week's Ealing Council meeting to commit the Council to reject this downgrade and fight for the station that Ealing residents deserve."

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Vice Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee said: "Across London there is a long list of stations and transport projects where corners have been cut. Often people have paid a huge price for such short term decisions, especially in terms of overcrowding. Cutting back on access and capacity at such an important station as Ealing Broadway runs the risk of adding this station to that long list."

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the policy that will control all planning in the borough until 2026. Ealing Liberal Democrats believe the Council's new LDF strategy document, on which consultation has just ended, is neither justified, robust nor credible. It does not have regard to Ealing's historic legacy or a sustainable vision for its future. It would allow, for example, a number of tall buildings with an inadequate proportion of affordable homes to be built in places that are not suitable, as well as failing to plan for the necessary number of doctors, dentists and schools.

Ealing Council last week agreed to about £50 million pounds worth of budget reductions. About 20 percent of these are service cuts and the remainder a combination of efficiency savings and contract savings. Liberal Democrats know that the Council has to reduce its budget and so we agree with a lot of the changes however there are some points we feel are not acceptable including cuts to park rangers, police PCSOs and reduction in enviro-crime officers.

In a vote of all Councillors at a recent Council meeting the Labour party voted against a motion to reduce Councillors' allowances.

The Liberal Democrats voted in favour of the Councillor allowance cuts.

Councillor Gary Malcolm commented: "Shame on the Labour Councillors. In these difficult economic times we need to all make savings. That money could have been better spent elsewhere such as preserving our day centres."

Ealing Lib Dems Transport spokesman Cllr Nigel Bakhai has welcomed the news that Labour-run Ealing Council has reversed its decision to end maximum daily charges for visitors' parking vouchers and is to consider introducing permits for carers.

In September, Ealing Council announced plans to increase the cost of CPZ permits from £25 to £40 a year for zones that are in operation two hours a day, and from £45 to £75 for those that are in operation all day to bring them in line with other boroughs. At the same time, the council also published proposals for a flat rate fifty pence per hour for visitor parking vouchers and an end to the £1 maximum daily charge.

Southfield Councillor Andrew Steed arranged for a group of six-form students from St.Benedict's School to attend a Council Meeting this October.

Andrew Steed said: "Politics has an impact on all people, even if they do not express much interest in the subject. This is especially true of local politics where the actions of the Council can determine if the rubbish is collected on time or if the lamp post on the corner of their street is working."

Local Lib Dems have condemned Ealing Council for beginning plans to close the Albert Dane centre for the disabled in Southall.

The Albert Dane Centre is a day centre for people with physical disabilities aged between 18-64, which is currently used by up to 45 people on a regular basis.

Cllr Nigel Bakhai, who first visited the Albert Dane centre in the 2007 Ealing Southall by-election, has signed a petition organised by concerned users and local residents against the proposed closure. The Ealing Lib Dem council group also voted to support keeping the centre open when the issue was debated at a recent council meeting.

Ealing Council wants to sell off the Priory Centre for housing. This has raised a lot of concern amongst those living in Acton and the North of Chiswick.

Liberal Democrats want to see the Council keep the Priory Centre where it is and make repairs to the facilities now, instead of allowing it to be run down.