November 2008 Archives

Lady Margaret ward forum will meet in Southall for the second time on Tuesday, December 9.

All residents are invited to attend the meeting at Lady Margaret Primary School in Lady Margaret Road, from 7pm to 9pm.

A businessman is on trial after being accused of supplying bogus information to support visa applications.

Joginder Singh Kaile promised to accommodate scores of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts, Isleworth Crown Court.

A Southall councillor fears the area could be overwhelmed if a series of proposed major schemes converge in the coming years.

Manjit Singh, ward councillor for Southall Broadway, said he was worried the combination of the planned Gasworks housing development, along with a new power station, could result in overcrowding and may overwhelm local infrastructure.

In October, National Grid re-submitted its proposal for the 80-acre site at the gasworks, with about 3,750 homes alongside commercial units, a health centre and a new school.
Energy provider Blue-NG will shortly be submitting plans for a £30 million eco-friendly power station nearby at the old gas holder in The Straight. which would power thousands of homes in the region.
Mr Singh said: "As far as the power station is concerned, I am opposed to that as it is not a good idea for such a built-up residential area.
"The new Gasworks proposal is a bit better than previous submissions as it has less houses then before, but it is still high and could result in overcrowding.
"If there are up to 4,000 new homes, then that means nearly 10,000 new residents could move to Southall. That's enough for a new ward."
Ealing Council's regeneration leader, Councillor David Millican, said: "The gasworks site is very big and has been there for 100 years. It's a potential site for redevelopment and clearly there's still a lot of work to be done in terms of things like transport links.
"The developers have come up with an imaginative scheme which is definitely worth considering."
Mr Millican said the proposal was not due to go before a planning committee for at least the next two months.
A spokesman for Blue-NG said: ÒShould we win planning permission, we do not anticipate having any adverse effect on the local infrastructure.
"Aside from the delivery of vegetable oil, which would be done in a way to minimise traffic movements, the company will not be making any demands on local services or infrastructure.
"Indeed, by providing green electricity and paying business rates, we hope to be a net contributor to the local economy.Ó
The proposal is set to be submitted by Christmas.
Business development agency Heathrow City Partnership, based in Southall, is also co-ordinating plans to re-brand the area as a vibrant cultural hub with the aid of local businesses.

It's good news for a railway preservation group after it has been given a new lease of life following months of uncertainty.

The Great Western Railway Preservation Group in Southall, which maintains and repairs vintage steam engines, had been given weeks to vacate its site by Network Rail back in August.

Tribute has been paid to a former Labour councillor for Southall who died last week.

Ram Kishan Perdesi passed away on Wednesday, November 12, aged 73. Ealing Labour group leader Julian Bell said it is believed he died from natural causes.

A fundraising event for St Ann's School in Hanwell will take place at the Monsoon Banqueting Suite on Monday November 24.

The event will include Indian music and food and will guests will include Richard Barnes, Deputy Mayor for London as well as Seema Kumar, deputy mayor of Ealing.

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Southall Sports Centre has reopened after a fire.

The centre in Beaconsfield Road was shut on Saturday (8) after workers arrived to find smoke filling the building.

EALING Southall's MP Virendra Sharma has been promoted to a government post.

Mr Sharma has been appointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to the Treasury and Home Office.

A man has been formally charged with the murder of his wife at their home in Southall last month.

Aftab Khan, 47, had been charged with the attempted murder of Shireen Khan, 41, at Hillary Road on October 4.

Extra space for up to 50 Muslim graves has been allocated at Hortus Cemetery in Southall.

The area in Merrick Road was marked on Tuesday, October 21, at 11am following a low-key gathering at the cemetery.