Southfield Liberal Democrats launch local election priorities

After many months of surveying the views of Southfield residents and local businesses, the three Southfield Liberal Democrat Councillors have launched their three priorities which they will campaign on in the up-coming local elections which take place on 3rd May 2018.

 1. Cleaner and Safer Southfield:

• Free from litter, fly-tips and leaves by re-introducing the weekly sweeping regime. When the Conservatives and the Labour party in Ealing Council voted for Council Tax they voted for the two reductions in street cleaning from a weekly service to once every 12 weeks. Only the Liberal Democrats have stood up for residents on this issue.
• Involve residents in gaining feedback on which streets are considered clean or dirty. We would be very tough on the contractors like Amey who have failed over many years to give residents a good service. We will get replace failing contractors or withhold monies from their payments.
• Work with the local police team (SNT) to support projects that can reduce the crime rate and help promote the benefits of Neighbourhood Watch schemes. This should help keep the crime rate at its current low level.
• Continue to work with the police and Ealing Council to reduce the incidences of speeding traffic which can lead to traffic accidents and deaths.

2. Public transport better for all:

• Campaigning for TFL to get Piccadilly Line tubes to stop at Turnham Green tube station. We have successfully persuaded TFL that Piccadilly Line tubes can stop at Turnham Green station, we just need them to upgrade the signalling.
• We want our tube and rail stations and bus stops to be accessible for those with mobility issues and have already improved a number of bus stops in Southfield in coordination with residents.
• Promote cycling and the ability to store cycles safely when people are visiting residents or whilst shopping in the area.

3. Protect Local Health Services:

• Campaigning to stop our hospitals from being downgraded or closed such as Charing Cross hospital.
• Look for ways to expand local GP doctor and dental provision in the area.

So these are the main issues residents have contacted us about. We will campaign on these plus other issues and have an action plan for each of these topics including the continues improvement of our parks which now have a Green Flag status!

Liberal Democrats would strengthen ward fora

Over the past couple of years Ealing Council have made lots of small changes which have led to ward fora meetings being less effective or relevant to residents.

Liberal Democrats believe that to get more people involved in the Council decision making process, the Council needs to be proactive and make ward forum meetings more likely to encourage residents to attend.

I remember when ward forum meetings hosted some interesting debates about wheelie bins, the possible closure of the 94-bus terminus, whether or not to light Southfield Rec and discussing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs).

Instead the Labour party have reduced the publicity so fewer people know about the meetings. 

They have reduced the budgets so fewer schemes can be introduced.

In Southfield we are the ONLY ward in the 23 in Ealing borough, who have four ward meetings a year. All but two only have two meetings a year! How last is that?

We also make a great effort to involve residents’ associations, the police and other bodies who attend to speak to residents as well as give some useful ideas for projects that we can fund. 

Over our time these have included:

·         New lights for half of Southfield.

·         Planting of a huge number of trees spread across the area.

·         Improvements to all our parks and playgrounds.

·         Cycle hangers to help residents store their cycles safely to avoid being robbed.

Another perverse change is that minutes will not be taken and instead only action points. This may seem sensible but if there are missing action points, how can they be verified without more detailed minutes!

The Liberal Democrats have a more proactive approach to ward fora meetings. We believe that a much higher share of the environmental budget can be allocated to each ward in Ealing borough. This will mean that Councillors and ward forum meetings can allocate budgets on a combination of demand and the priorities of each ward.

This approach is more devolved and democratic and it would give each councillor a greater responsibility. Residents would see who the hardworking and effective Councillors are.

It is regrettable that Labour-run Ealing Council are allowing many ward fora to rot so they can make their cuts without taking the blame. The Liberal Democrats approach is to keep on fighting and linking in with residents who want to see improvements in Acton and Chiswick.

Crime – Prevention is better than allowing crimes to occur

Clearly any crime committed is one too many but in the past few years there has been a move away from preventing more common crimes such as burglary and theft.

We have been left in a situation where too many people have their bikes stolen or cars broken into. Many crimes are either avoidable or severely reduced by a proactive input from both residents and local safer neighbourhood teams in Ealing borough.

Southfield Police team

Liberal Democrats say that part of this was due to the Mayor of London reducing the number of local police, meaning that there are fewer police who are dedicated to a local area. These teams played a vital role of liaising with residents’ associations and residents to gather intelligence and to sort out the problems affecting a particular ward or borough.

Now with smaller police teams, it means that less proactive advice is given for residents to reduce crime.

In the ward where I live, the local Southfield police team do a magnificent job. But this is only possible because groups of residents work together with the police to engage residents to pass on crime reduction advice. Some of the initiatives include:

• Promoting the take up of SmartWater which is used to mark valuables to both reduce burglary and if items are taken, they are more likely to be traced by the police.
• Having the largest Safer Neighbourhood Watch active schemes in the borough which means that police advice about local crimes or how to reduce crime is spread amongst residents more quickly.
• Free property surveys by the local police team. I had one of these when I moved into the area and the police gave lots of free advice on how I can easily reduce being a victim of crime.

Liberal Democrats say that cuts to the local police are bad and in many areas have led to increases in many types of crime. Ensuring we have enough local police is vital if we are to reduce many of the more easily preventable crimes.

I am proud that crime in Southfield is the lowest in the area. It would be wonderful if other areas of Ealing repeat what is working in Southfield so we can all have lower crime rates.

Do you want to be a part of the Neigbourhood Watch (NHW) scheme?

In Southfield there are lots of Neighbourhood Watch schemes covering a lot of streets. However not every street is covered and it would be great to have more volunteers.

Neighbourhood Watch coordinators tend to inform neighbours of any recent crimes to residents in their street. Some hold meetings with the police and ward Councillors to pass on tips about reducing crimes such as theft from motor cars and burglary.

Smart Water!

Quite simply they are the eyes and ears of the street which can help the police gain information of when potential criminals might be planning a crime (such as viewing inside cars to see if they should break into a car). Or reporting broken glass - a sign that cars have been broken into (but are often not reported due to insurance excesses.

Some look after a number of streets, but most often a coordinator will look after a section of a road.

Many people become a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator when the have suffered a crime, want their local area to feel or actually be safer.

As part of the NHW scheme large numbers of smart water kits have been distributed. Smart Water allows you to uniquely mark your property so if it does get stolen it can be more easily brought back to you. It can also deter criminals as they know that if they enter a property marked with Smart Water they can be marked with the unique substance which would link them to entering a property illegally.

The Southfield Park Triangle Residents Association (SPTRA) have done a magnificent job in promoting Smart Water to residents in their area.

If you would like to hear more about becoming a Neighbourhood Watch coordinator in Southfield please let me know via southfield@ealinglibdems.org.uk

Gary Malcolm with the local police team in Southfield

Especially if you are new to the area, you might wish to contact the local police team? The local team (which has additional officers who also patrol the area) is made up of Inspector Graham Durn, Acting Sergeant Carl Massey, PC Simon Cole and PCSO Stuart Honey.

Their main phone number is 020 8721 2946.

If you see a crime happening please call 999. If you are not sure how important something is which you spotted, please either call 999 so they can prioritise, or 101 which will mean your observations will be passed to the local Southfield team. They may then contact you if they require more information.

Some top tips to reduce crime include:

• Even in Summer try not to leave the windows open as burglars may use these (even small ones) to get access your home.
• Do not leave loose change in your car as it will attract people who may think other items are stored.
• Leave the glove department open and empty so they can see that nothing is in the glove department.

Haw you any crime tips...if you please tweet @cllrgarymalcolm

Southfield Ward Forum update - including a sad Carlton Road day centre update

Despite the rain and the cold weather, it was a wonderful Southfield Ward Forum meeting in St Albans Church. Since the church was saved from being converted into a number of luxury flats we looked forward to using the venue for public meetings.

The meeting was kicked off by  Rev Mike Tufnell who updated residents of future events to be held in the large church. Although I am not religious, churches like St Albans are amazing places due to the arhitecture and the stained glass windows. The next Ward Panel meeting that will take place in the church we hope to be in the Summer.

St Albans Church before the meeting

There were a number of topics we discussed...

Closure of the Carlton Road Day Centre
I announced that in the Summer it is likely that the centre will close, although the exact timings is not known. This will be a sad end to a great service the Council runs very well. Despite a huge campaign last week the Labour run Ealing Council decided that they did not want to look at the alternatives which Liberal Democrat Councillors put forward.

These would have allowed the day centre to stay open. Labour Councillors who voted to close it should be ashamed of themselves. The users are the most vulnerable as they are severely physically disabled. When the day centre shuts the Council wishes to sell off the site probably to build expensive homes and not affordable units.

I pay tribute to the staff at the Day Centre who will shortly lose their jobs, and thank all those residents who tried in vain to stop Labour closing the day centre. Southfield Councillor Gary Busuttil has been active on this and so I give a special thanks to his hard work and dedication.

Thames Water Sewage problems continue
Don Tanswell, chair of the Southfield Park Triangle Residents' Association, updated the meeting about the ongoing issues due to the lack of effective emptying of the storage tanks near to Hatfield Road, when it rains.

It appears that lots of good evidence has been taken and Ealing Council might be in a position to take legal action to get Thames Water to either fix the issue or install roofs on the six tanks.

Ward Forum Budget
We agreed to...

• Plant 13 trees around the Beaconsfield Road area which will replace 13 that are to be felled due to problems they have caused residents in the area.
• Consider funding a couple of small arts events in Chiswick and Acton.
• Install an additional cycle rack near the 94 bus terminus.
• Improve the cycling facilities and improve Acton Green by installing a Brompton Cycle Hire unit near where the large bins near Turnham Green Station which had attracted lots of dumped waste. Also new cycle racks will be added near to the taxi rank and a section of the path will be converted into grass to improve the environment. Much of this work has come from the hard work by Councillor Andrew Steed.

The church's drum set!

Neighbourhood Watch
In Southfield we have 51 Neighbourhood Watch reps who help to reduce crime by informing their neighbours of crimes the police have informed them of. Some also check up on vulnerable residents in their area to see that they are fit and well. The reps do as much or as little as they can do - some take on ten houses and others a whole street. Some insurance companies offer discounts to home and contents insurance as a Neighbourhood Watch scheme often reduces crime!

The police want more people to help our and so please email me using gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.uk if you want to know more information or you want me to speak to the local police team so they can arrange for you to become a Neighbourhood Watch rep. At the meeting one person said she was interested!

Next Ward Forum meetings - put them in your diary!
The next four ward forums (venues to be confirmed) will start at 7.30 pm on these dates:

• Wed 10th June 2015
• Wed 9th September 2015
• Wed 9th December 2015
• Wed 9th March 2016

Why we should be concerned about the rise in betting shops

Wherever you are in Ealing the large number of betting shops can be seen in our seven town centres.

Many areas in the borough have not just a high density of betting shops but many of the anti-social problems that appear to come with these establishments. Residents are concerned about the effects that a cluster of betting shops can have on our high streets and local shopping parades.

Some of the reported problems include street muggings, drug dealing, vandalism, littering, harassment and intimidation from customers outside on the street, underage gambling and street drinking. Then there is the issue that gambling in many cases makes poorer people, poorer. More and more betting shops have opened due to a loophole in the law that allowed the big bookmaking chains to open branches in many locations without planning permission.

Lib Dem Jon Ball

Ealing Central and Acton Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate Jon Ball spotted the loophole in action when Ladbrokes opened a betting shop in the former Sitar Restaurant in South Ealing Road - a short distance away from the existing Corals and Paddy Power betting shops.

Jon Ball succeeded in persuading the government to make it harder for betting shops to open on our high street. He initially raised the issue at a Liberal Democrat national conference which agreed with his proposals. He then successfully lobbied coalition government ministers to introduce new powers to crack down on the large increase in betting shops. Now bookmakers will have to make a planning application which local councils will be able to refuse if they are worried about the numbers of shops in the area.

Across the country many people are concerned about the explosion in the number of betting shops in high streets. Liberal Democrats in Government are determined to build a stronger economy and a fairer society with healthy and diverse high streets that aren’t dominated by betting shops. This is why we are now giving councils tough new powers to prevent the proliferation of betting shops in their area.

This is a powerful example of a Liberal Democrat campaigner championing a local issue which will have a positive impact across London and the whole country. This is why Ealing needs a Liberal Democrat MP.

With Christmas approaching how you can avoid being the victim of crime

Over the Christmas period it will be a great time for many residents and their children, when they open their presents.

But this is also a time when many criminals plan how to relieve us of some of our new belongings.
Liberal Democrats know that there will be many vulnerable residents who might not be visited as often over the festive period.

So if you know of someone who might be vulnerable give them a knock over Christmas to check they are okay. December is a time when a lot of boilers break down so better to be safe and sorry.

Over this period I also like to practice my baking and cooking and drop by some food based Christmas presents – including scones, biscuits and fruit breads.

Liaising with the local police over the past ten years or so, I have learned a lot of what I call “Top tips” in reducing being a victim of crime over the New Year period.

• In the run up to Christmas make sure you do not leave any bills or banking documents in your waste. Shred them so criminals are less able to commit identity theft.
• When you have unwrapped valuable items like plasma TVs remember not to leave the box easily visible to those walking by. It will highlight you have some items that a criminal could break in and steal.
• If you have cash which you are to take with you to pay for Christmas presents, ensure it is in a safe or out of reach of anyone peering in through your windows or letter box.
• When you leave your vehicle ensure you have not left any items in the car. This is because a jumper on the back seat may encourage a villain to break in and will cause you hassle even if they do not steal the jumper.
• Recently a lot of people are reporting callers allegedly collecting for charities. If you are unsure then do not open the door and ask they to leave a leaflet so you can research the charity later.
• Lastly if you are shopping in the January sales then make sure your bag or handbags are zipped shut. Anyone in a busy clothes shop could be walking around to steal a purse or wallet, and is not interested in clothing.

I hope all of us in Ealing are going to have a fun and safe festive period, away from work and spending time with family and friends. If you have any crime tips please let me know them by emailing me at gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.uk