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Boozers Lose Benches
BOOZERS are to lose their seats as officials start to rip out benches in a crackdown on drunks and vagrants.
Groups of drinkers are regularly reported sitting on the benches outside Southall Town Hall in High Street, either consuming alcohol or using them to sleep on.
Shopkeepers have complained of receiving verbal abuse from people who would come into the shop to buy more booze.
An Ealing Council spokewoman said: "We have a contract order in place so by the end of October the benches will be removed outside the Town Hall and placed along the Broadway.
"One will be placed outside 239 The Broadway in order to replace a bench that was removed due to pavement resurfacing.
"We have had requests from MPs on the issue as well as the rest of the safer neighbourhood team so the decision was made to relocate them.
"Community neighbourhood teams will work together with safer neighbourhood teams to deal with or help anyone affected by the removal of the benches."
Ash Verma, chief executive of Heathrow City Partnership, which is based at the Town Hall, says the move should improve the area.
He added: "We complained as we are a business development agency and this is not the image that we want to present to businesses, residents and customers.
"As a business, we believe this is the right thing to do as this part of Southall is a gateway to the rest of the area and it shows the relevant authorities have taken the problem seriously."
Mr Verma added the partnership is currently in talks with Ealing Council to secure £1.2 million for improving the town hall exterior.
"We want to improve the front of the building as part of regenerating the area and selling Southall to London and the rest of the world."
Shopkeepers have complained of receiving verbal abuse from people who would come into the shop to buy more booze.
An Ealing Council spokewoman said: "We have a contract order in place so by the end of October the benches will be removed outside the Town Hall and placed along the Broadway.
"One will be placed outside 239 The Broadway in order to replace a bench that was removed due to pavement resurfacing.
"We have had requests from MPs on the issue as well as the rest of the safer neighbourhood team so the decision was made to relocate them.
"Community neighbourhood teams will work together with safer neighbourhood teams to deal with or help anyone affected by the removal of the benches."
Ash Verma, chief executive of Heathrow City Partnership, which is based at the Town Hall, says the move should improve the area.
He added: "We complained as we are a business development agency and this is not the image that we want to present to businesses, residents and customers.
"As a business, we believe this is the right thing to do as this part of Southall is a gateway to the rest of the area and it shows the relevant authorities have taken the problem seriously."
Mr Verma added the partnership is currently in talks with Ealing Council to secure £1.2 million for improving the town hall exterior.
"We want to improve the front of the building as part of regenerating the area and selling Southall to London and the rest of the world."
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you can lose the benches, but they would move on to their second seating area it seems which would be the town hall steps.
im also surprised one of them have not been killed or seriously injured the way they cross the busy high street to & from the off licence without a care.
a good, but short-lived move by the council.
"This is not the image that we want to present to businesses, residents and customers."
Why not, it's the reality.
"In talks with Ealing Council to secure £1.2 million for improving the town hall exterior."
for "selling Southall to London and the rest of the world."
A £1.9 million investment is available for the regeneration of the whole of Southall over the next few years. The front of the Old town Hall is the last place residents want their money squandered on.
Try "selling Southall" to the residents by using THAT money to clean up the rubbish, the stink and the unsociable elements.
Funny how the Chief Exec can complain about the inability to sell southall to business leaders when hoarding previous LDA grants to southall via his Southall Regeneration Agency. Im sure that any funding passed to Ash Verma will make its way to his cronies and business buddies via kick-backs. ealing Gazette should investigate that and give Southall what it deserves! At the moment people boozing on benches is the least of our worries
Finally, residents standing up for their community. Ealing Council should also be investigated for funding Mr. Verma's activities under the heading of 'regeneration' whilst enjoying his hospitality. Southall is one of the most deprived areas in London but we still have these so called 'leaders' using funds for their own benefit. Council leaders please start questioning activity within the borough as you are required or be held responsible for the shameful activities.
Aram