Ealing Council held a public meeting this evening at Hambrough School to update residents about the proposed improvements to Southall Town Centre.

In the Introduction speech, Councillor David Millican, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Transport said “We are not going to change Southall overnight” and that they were present to listen and communicate the proposals.

He also stated that the streets of Southall were “not as clean as they should be” but are a lot better than before.

He also stated that the council has now got a fourth priority, which is Regeneration and that the £1.9 million investment over the next few years, although significant, was “not a huge amount of money”.

The main presentation was delivered by Brendon Walsh, director of Property and Regeneration. He said that:

• The people of Southall had a “strong identity” and pride.
• Shops in Southall do not meet the needs of the young (forgot to add the family either).
• Travelling to Southall is a problem
• Bigger and better homes are needed
• Need to provide conditions for growth
• Good quality parks and open spaces are needed
• The gasworks site will be a mixed development
• The Broadway looks good but has obivious rubbish points
• The Phoenix House redevelopment is being progressed
• Street trading is not properly controlled
• Manor house could do with some money spent on it

This was followed by residents being split into 5 different topic groups to discuss and then list their top 3 recommendations.

Some of the recommendations raised were:

• People do not feel safe at night
• Having laws without proper enforcement it is a waste of time e.g. no drinking zone.
• Without tackling the current issues of street traders, rubbish and unsocialable behaviour especially around the Broadway and the train station, all regeneration attempts are doomed to fail.
• Instead, the council is only interested in box junctions – illegal and easy revenue
• Some of the regeneration money should be spent on enforcement rather than on show piece benches that will be good for only 6 months
• To do that we require pro-active monitoring and enforcement, at the time the transgressions take place, not during 9-5 office hours.
• We have too many parking restriction and should introduce a lot more short-time free parking spaces
• The Closure of the Job Centre is Southall is not good
• Focus on current issues like providing facilities for young people, rather than medium to long term projects
• Improve existing parks i.e. provide toilet facilities
• Better use of area around the Railway station e.g. safe cycle parking

Mr. Lesley Porter stated a few interesting facts in his witty summary for his group. The idea of bridge over the railway line is not new, as it was first considered in 1839. Furthermore £1.9 million would only pay for half a bridge.