Liberal Democrats are already making Ealing fairer

In Ealing, voters will make their choice on who should represent them on May 7th.

Councillor Gary Malcolm

Liberal Democrats in government have successfully turned around the poor state of the economy - where we were shedding over 1,000 jobs a day when we took over from Labour - into the fastest growing economy in the G8.

We have a sound platform to continue the good work that the Liberal Democrats have done as part of the coalition government.

Ealing has seen investment to improve many core services. We have delivered:

• £45 million to Ealing schools, since 2010, to benefit the most disadvantaged children.
• Free school meals for 13,400 children in Ealing in school years Reception, 1, and 2.
• Almost 8,000 apprenticeships giving our youngest members of Ealing a greater future.
• 5,500 more residents in Ealing in work, compared to 2010.
• A £900 income tax cut for over 150,000 Ealing residents, taking 22,000 of them out of tax altogether – something the Conservatives said back in 2010 wouldn’t be possible!
• A £950 cash increase for 38,000 pensioners in Ealing, compared to 2010.
• Tax-free early years education or weekly childcare for 10,500 Ealing families.
• Waiting limits for mental health treatment for the first time.
• Equal marriage – allowing same-sex couples the right to marry here in Ealing Town Hall - something Labour said they had a principled objection to only a few years ago.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Jon Ball has been visiting residents in Ealing, and they say they are looking forward to voting Liberal Democrat because of the £8 billion a year we will invest in the NHS, something that not one of the other parties have pledged to match.

Housing in many areas including Southall and Acton needs improving. Our policy to introduce a ‘Rent to Own’ scheme will allow young people to buy their own home without needing a deposit, by ‘buying’ a share in their homes by paying their rent.

We will cut bus fares by two-thirds for 21,600 16 - 21 year-olds people in Ealing.

We will also give a £250 respite bonus every year to 3,570 full time carers in Ealing.

We will require that all children should be taught by a qualified teacher: currently 115 teachers in Ealing are unqualified.

Ealing Labour have failed: rather than invest in our shared future like the Liberal Democrats, they have closed day centre after day centre, making life worse for vulnerable groups like the elderly and those with disabilities.

The Liberal Democrats have made Ealing a fairer place already. A vote for the Liberal Democrats on May 7 and will help us all go further.

Lib Dems against Council selling the Carlton Road Day Centre

Gary Busuttil and the Southfield Liberal Democrats are against the Council selling the Carlton Road Day Centre in Chiswick.

The Council papers that the the Southfield Liberal Democrats have seen show that the Labour-run Ealing Council want to see the Carlton Road day centre, which would leave many profoundly disabled users, with nowhere to receive care.

Gary Busuttil

Labour-run Ealing Council has voted to close three day centres despite opposition from vulnerable users and their carers. They now plan to close even more day centres.

Read the article about this as seen on ChiswickW4.com

The Liberal Democrats believe Ealing Council should treat the most vulnerable users with more respect.

Southfield candidate Gary Busuttil has been busy collecting signatures to show Ealing Council they should not sell of the Carlton Road day centre.

Please sign the petiton.

Southfield Lib Dems approve 20 mph zone

Southfield ward Councillors met with Council Transport officers and have agreed a 20 mph zone for Southfield.

From the consultation that took place in autumn, 69% of respondents wanted to see a 20 mph zone. Some of the key points are:

Southfield Councillor Andrew Steed

• We do not think having two roundabouts is feasible or needed at the Southfield Road / Fletcher Road / Acton Lane junction. Officers have agreed to redesign and come up with a single roundabout option.
• Two sets of improvements are to happen this month due to the high support from residents – including a new raised table / zebra crossing near the Murco garage across the Beaconsfield Road and a crossing across South Parade to Acton Green Common.
• There were concerns that a number of mature trees were to be cut down. Local Councillors with officers have found ways for this to be avoided.
• A number of the streets will have their centre lines moved which will help reduce accidents.
• In some areas parking spaces will be increased by reducing the length of some double yellow lines.
• Based upon which safety works were preferred most by residents and those which will give more road safety benefits, it was confirmed that each set of works will be done separately so to reduce congestion.

The Liberal Democrats Councillors want to see both our roads safer and for congestion to be reduced. We have agreed to items of work that will give benefit to the area and suggested methods which would not require cutting down trees.

Below we list some of the changes with more geographic detail so that Southfield residents can see what changes might be happening near to where they live.

Councillor Gary Malcolm

• Relocating two car club bays near to the bend of Cunnington Street. No parking loss and it should give better visibility at the blind corner.
• Proposal to reduce the Cunnington Street “stop & shop” parking bays from 30 mins to 15 mins was wanted by Acton Green Residents Association (AGRA) and local councillors but given some negativity from residents the officers are to look at whether residents local to Marie’s Store are in favour or not.
• Speed humps at Acton Lane, Beaconsfield Road, Kingswood Road, Cunnington Street – we generally agreed with these suggestions but officers agreed to our request to look again at the Antrobus Road / Cunnington Street junction, due to the recent accidents. AGRA were strongly in favour of these proposals.
• Mini roundabout at Rothschild Road / Cunnington Street junction – same comment as item one in relation to recent accidents.

• Relocation of the signal crossing to a raised zebra crossing on Acton Lane (nearer to Cunnington Street) should reduce the number of pedestrians running across the road instead of using the safer crossing. There have been quite a few minor accidents near this location.
• Raised table at Southfield Road / Carlton Road junction – 60% of people were in favour and this should stop some of the speeding.
• Raising the existing crossing at Steele Road / Acton Lane junction – this was agreed by 64% of residents.
• Rejected the idea of moving a bus stop on The Avenue (near to No. 38) as it would give little benefit and cost a lot of money.
• Raising the existing crossing on The Avenue / Bedford Road junction. This was supported by 62% of residents.
• Realigning the kerb layout and a proposed raised table on The Avenue / Marlborough Crescent junction intersection.

If you have any questions please let me know.