Campaign for Action on ACTON HIGH STREET

Dear Ealing Council,

We the people, residents and concerned citizens, write to draw your attention to the failure of successive local representatives to tackle one of the region's big local issues: the neglect and decline of Acton High Street.

Following recent discussion on the www.actonw3.com forum it seems there is universal agreement that the High Street is not fit for purpose and not in line with changing needs of this proud and diverse local community.

It seems a lot of energy has been put into establishing a local market, however while any investment is welcome, this infrequent facility alone does not tackle the biggest issues facing the decline of the high street. A summary of some of the views expressed by residents are presented below.

Can you please provide a viewpoint on these issues so we can begin a process of dialogue to enable us understand what the intentions of the council are. The main Acton High Street criticisms being levelled at you, our civic representatives are:

- a lack of council enforcement of vacant premises
- very poor communication from the council on plans/initiative relating to the high street
- the High Street is visually not appealing
- the shops have signage without any/certain requirements
- no incentives to create a better balance of shops (eg to create a social mix)
- no replacement of old paving stones
- a high proportion of litter
- no high profile community body responsible for regenerating the High Street with concrete aims (Action Acton has not this aim)
- not enough engagement with the local community
- no efforts to improve the local environment to encourage people to shop/visit
- no council investigation on the causes of empty properties
- no articulated plans for the rejunvenation of old properties
- no hanging flower baskets
- absence of specific metrics for what good looks like from a partnership of residents & traders
- no efforts to encourage big name retailers to come to the region
- no efforts to move away from view that Acton is for all residents not just for those with social problems
- inadequate transport access to the high street
- no efforts to re-establish a strong voice and identity for Acton
- ugly large black barriers all around the High Street not welcoming
- no parking restrictions (eg red route) to make the street more acessible for ALL


We look forward to hearing back from you on these issues.

Regards


Tom Uwins
Tony Crumpton
Rosco White
Angela Jullings
Bob Crossley
Marek Cezary Mika
Oliver Tebbutt
Olga Sidoryk
Peter Todd
Tina Spooner
Keith Clarke
Doris Cook
Natalie Mcdermott
Julia Hunt
Steven Kealey
Susan Hughes
Laura Wood
Yasmeen Alzubaydi
Lisa Jennings
Mavis Walker
The Editor, ActonW3.com
Shao-ying Ben-Nathan
James Roberts
Jacqui Moss
Chris Hurley
Charlotte Abbasi
Charlotte Abbasi
Nina Battleday
Maria Ashe
Doris Cook
Ben Ffoulkes-Jones
John Kennedy
Luciana Chamberlain
Catherine Lloyd
David Fox
Robert Julian Fernandez
Jeevan Chatrath
Ben Roberts
Jean Heaphy
Clare Mulvany
Wendy Jones
Jane Duke
Fred Bray
Jackie Green
Declan Niall
Ken White
Tom Uwins
Chris Blackman
Tom Uwins
James Hocking
Doris Cook
Lorna Dodd
Thomas McGrath