Forum Topics

Ealing hospital exploitation - parking charges £3.50 minimum

I had the misfortune to go to Ealing hospital today for an x-ray, so I got out of my car to go and pay to see that the minimum charge for parking is:"up to 4 hours £3.50"YES - THREE-POUNDS-FIFTY MINIMUM CHARGE...and you have to type in your registration plate number to get a ticket, clearly to stop people from giving their unexpired ticket to someone else.The last 2 times I've been to the hospital was to A&E with my son, but my husband paid, so maybe it has been like this forever and I'm behind the times.Nevertheless, this is absolutely an outrageous and cynical way of generating revenue. Charge for parking, fine, everyone else does, but even if hospitals like the Chelsea & Westminster operate pay for what you use parking, vs. crazy minimum charges.I know the NHS needs to cut costs, just like every other government department, but generating extortionate revenues from the general population, particularly of the sick and elderly is a recurrent theme for hospitals, but it is seriously wrong.This will hit the poorest hardest. Even profit making companies, whose main source of income is parking fees e.g. NCP could not dream of such a pricing strategy as people would vote with their feet (or wheels) and go elsewhere, but oh, I forgot, this is a hospital, and there is no alternative for parking, so it is a captive audience, so yes, why not, let's just maximise the return.This is exploitation by a government body and it so wrong it makes me extremely angry.

Melissa Smith ● 5951d34 Comments ● 5932d

HELICOPTER IN EALING

Any one know what's going on? Lots of Police and now helicopter.

Emma Daniels ● 5934d7 Comments ● 5932d

Door to Door Scam - The Organisation for Homeless and Unemployed People

The guy that I just gave a couple of bob to has a dog and a sob story. From Merton Community Safe.gov.ukResidents of Hillside please beware of a possible scam that may be happening on our ward. This was brought to our attention by a resident for which i am grateful. Young men are calling door to doore purporting to be selling selling goods for a charity (The Organisation for Homeless and Unemployed People). Well-spoken, smartly dressed young men have been reported harassing residents into buying household goods with various hard luck stories. The goods considered over-priced by the residents include tea towels for £7.99 and scrubbing brushes for £2.When residents have been reluctant or simply not interested they have either been cajoled with hard luck tales of how their livelihood depends on the sale or subjected to verbal abuse.The names given by the group are ‘The Organisation For Homeless & Unemployed People’ PO Box 2457 Woodford Green IG8 1EE and ‘The Homeless & Unemployed Workgroup’ POBox 66 Loughton, Essex IG10 3UQ.A query with the post office has uncovered that the PO Box numbers are false and neither postcodes exist in the Loughton and Woodford Green area.Under new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007 pressurising a consumer into buying a product or service by telling them that if they do not buy then the trader’s job or livelihood will be in jeopardy could be a prohibited practice. Trading with a name that is not identifiable also infringes basic consumer protection legislation. Residents are advised to report any sightings of this group to Merton Trading standards on 020 8545 4018 or their local police station’s Safer Neighbourhood Team. A list of the SNT offices and contact numbers can be found on the Metropolitan Police website in the Merton safer neighbourhood section.

Jas Wilkins ● 5933d0 Comments ● 5933d

Summer Festival -  well done Events team

Let's give a big cheer to the ealing council events team for putting on the best-ever (blessed by the weather) summer festival.  Congratulations. the blues day especially was the best i've attended (and I must've been to 20 or more). My Councul Tax money well spent. Thanks.one small gripe - mrs dix was not impressed by the bar refusing to do halfpints or shandies. that does  seem to encourage irresponsible drinking. But a small quibble given that they were serving my favourite beer - Black Sheep.Fantastic.

David Dix ● 5933d0 Comments ● 5933d

TfL to charge children £10 for a free bus pass

It was reported on July 23 that TfL have decided they will now charge each applicant, whether child aged 5 or student 18+ £10 to process the Zip Card Oyster application.  Of course this arbitrary measure is all part of the new regime of save costs or at least disburse the costs to where there is no comeback.What happens if this is a major burden for a low income family in Ealing?  Do they deprive the children of other essentials or just opt not to apply for the pass and rely on the fact that their children should not be turfed off a bus because the child is then vulnerable.  I do not fancy the average bus driver acting as the decision maker in this scenario on a regular basis.Many children change appearance considerably as puberty kicks in, so having got the pass for the 11-16 age group, is there a further charge when a responsible parent seeks a renewed photo to reflect the child?I don't think this is a charge that should be imposed without major consultation.  I also think once the charge is in place, the fee level will rise over the years.  Do we accept a charge at all?  If we do, should there be some safeguard to protect the children whose carers are on little income?

Colin Izzard ● 5935d10 Comments ● 5934d

Is there easy way to quick scan a long string

Do any of the more savvy amongst you know how to quickly get through a long string of replies?  I dread the thought of opening and closing 136 individual replies for the skyride debate

Colin Izzard ● 5934d0 Comments ● 5934d

Cattery's

Can anyone recommend a good cattery in Northfields or Hanwell area please

Mark Yates ● 5938d10 Comments ● 5934d

Does the council regulate alleyways?

I should also like to know if the council regulates what goes on in alleyways between properties as someone has dumped all manner of construction materials in our alley and removed the fence between property and alley so effectively making it no longer alley but part of his property. Said someone's builder, when asked to remove his fly tipping did not do so except for construction materials that could be of use to him.

Graham Weeks ● 5943d11 Comments ● 5935d

Another Ealing Police Boss Leaves After Three Years

Sultan Taylor, allegedly Ealing's longest serving Police boss, has left his job with no replacement as yet. The previous boss stayed even less than three years.Why do these people stay in the job for such a short time? Wouldn't it be helpful to have someone doing the job for at least five years?

Eric Alan Leach ● 5944d23 Comments ● 5935d

Armed Police last night

There were several armed police hanging around outside the William Hobbayne Centre last night - what on Earth was going on ????

Viv Ellis ● 5940d17 Comments ● 5936d

Good local glazier?

Does anyone know a good local glazier? One of our sash windows recently developed a crack running diagonally down the its length. I called the company who had installed the windows initially (local firm on Northfields Avenue) - and the service has been absolutely appalling. It has now been 3 weeks since the engineer came out to measure up the window, and I haven't heard anything from them. When I called earlier this afternoon I was advised that 'if you have a crack we wouldn't do anything about it'. So does anyone know anyone with a better service ethic? Thanks!

Clare Ryland ● 5945d4 Comments ● 5937d

Summer classes

Hello,we are looking for summer classes and especially of English for early beginners for our 7 year old daughter who just arrived in London with no English.Would someone have something to recommend that would be of interes?Chris

Christophe REMY ● 5945d2 Comments ● 5937d

iTunes account hacking!

Just wondering if anyone else has been affected by this and what action has been taken?I've had 68 apps downloaded at a cost in excess of £350 which has been taken out of my bank account. Lots of the apps are in Chinese or Japanese and some are for the iPad. I don't have an iPad, and can speak neither Chinese or Japanese.What a start to the week.........

Samantha Louise ● 5940d2 Comments ● 5938d

Litter in Northfields

I doubt that the increase in litter in Northfields has as much to do with the new Labour council as it does to do with the increased use of Lammas Park by litter louts in the hot weather. The levels of litter left by large parties and barbecues is appalling. People should clean up after themselves.

Andy Williams ● 5943d4 Comments ● 5938d

Thumbs up to our MP

I recently contacted Virendra Sharma on an issue I felt strongly about. However this was through one of those lobbying websites, so I wasn't sure what sort of response to expect, if I got one at all. To my shock, within 24 hours a non-automated response landed on my doormat. The letter may or may not have been composed by Mr Sharma himself, but it clearly addressed the points I raised and confirmed his thoughts regarding the issue. Never having contacted my MP before, I'm not sure if this is unusual or not, but I was certainly very impressed. I'd rather this thread didn't become a drum banging session for Robin and his cronies, but I just wanted to register my surprise and satisfaction with our MP.....who I'll admit, due to the aforementioned trolls, I didn't actually vote for!

Philip Slater ● 5939d2 Comments ● 5939d

Retail Shop To Let

I have a retail shop to let in Acton High Street, W3 which has a newly built extension. It is A1 USE. Rent is £26,000 per year.               Enqueries    -   Victor:  07947 752101                   

Vic Bell ● 5941d0 Comments ● 5941d

Does anyone need a brand new shredder?

Bought a brand new shedder thinking my other one had packed in - but just as I was about to give it up i got it working.  The new shredder bought on Saturday from Robert Dyas cost £25.  Will accept £20. 07974407766

Ben Owen ● 5941d0 Comments ● 5941d

Pest Control

I had a thriving bee hive but the wasps have taken it over as their own and are making my life in the garden a nightmareCan anyone recommend a good pest control company or a way to rid me of these awwful creatures

Debbs Lancelott ● 5941d1 Comments ● 5941d

ATTACK OF THE FLYING ANTS

Well, I don't want to frighten you, but that's incredible.  All across Ealing on the same two days every year, every single ant in the Borough knows weather conditions are ideal and it is time to swarm.How do they know?  Can you imagine what would happen if they decided collectively to act against humankind in such a remarkably co-ordinated fashion?  Scary.Humans can achieve that level of mass communication with radio; TV; computers and mobile phones.   What system are the ants using? 

Richard Bestic ● 5945d12 Comments ● 5943d

Hanger Lane Gyratory system - the UK's worst?

If you pay attention to the lanes and mirrors then although reasonably un- nerving this is a fairly manageable junction. Traffic light control is very good.I think Marble Arch and Hyde Park are the real scary London junctions.

George Knox ● 5947d17 Comments ● 5945d