GetWestLondon: "Council works with partners to improve east Acton life"

"Council Leader Julian Bell said they will be more strategic in tackling unemployment, crime and safety at a scrutiny meeting"

Link to web site

"The Local Strategic Partnership’s (LSP) east Acton project is testament to the more hands-on approach the council and its partners are taking to improve the borough, says Ealing’s council leader.

Councillor Julian Bell said three years ago they claimed they wanted to do less talking and more doing, and work undertaken this year to improve lives for people in the chosen area has proved that.

At Thursday’s (November 13) scrutiny meeting Mr Bell said:

"We will have discussions over the next couple of months on how we can be more strategic.

“Everybody knows there's not any more money but if you pull your money and resources together, we can work in a better way."

"... At the meeting, east Acton councillor Kate Crawford asked whether the council would be utilising opportunities surrounding HS2, to which the council leader said they would be looking to maximise opportunities for any future training and apprenticeships around Old Oak Common and HS2."

Financial Times: "Qatar looks to back UK high-speed train plan"

"The Qatari royal family has told British ministers it wants to invest heavily in regeneration projects being planned around the hubs of the new HS2 high-speed rail line, with billions of pounds of investment being discussed.

"The emir of Qatar visited the UK last month and told the prime minister he wanted to take advantage of new projects that have sprung up as a result of the £50bn rail venture, which will run from London to Birmingham, then Leeds and Manchester.

"While talks are at an early stage, both sides are keen to do a deal, according to figures in Downing Street, the Treasury and the Qatari royal family. Such an agreement would boost David Cameron’s attempts to improve Britain’s infrastructure using private and international money.

"According to Qatari officials, the potential investment was one of the main topics of discussion during the emir’s visit, and Doha is now waiting for further information from the UK government.

"Documents released by the Cabinet Office last month show how much attention the prime minister has given to attracting foreign investment into the UK. The papers reveal that in the first three months of this year, Mr Cameron organised three Downing Street meetings with external investors, including the Canada Pension Plan, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

"That strategy has begun paying off in the past few months. Li Keqiang met Mr Cameron in Beijing last year, after which the Chinese premier singled out high-speed rail and nuclear power as two key large-scale schemes in which his country is keen to put money.

"The Qataris are also trying to take over Songbird Estates, the group that owns London’s Canary Wharf, to add to other holdings in London, including Harrods and Chelsea Barracks.

"The gas-rich Gulf state also opened talks with the Treasury last year to invest up to £10bn into infrastructure projects such as energy plants, transport schemes or the Thames “super-sewer” under London.

"According to officials in the Downing Street meeting, Mr Cameron and the emir very briefly discussed how the Qatari sovereign wealth fund might put money into HS2 and British officials had more detailed discussions with their Qatari counterparts. While the UK government is planning to fund the costs of the railway line itself, trade officials are keen for outside investors to help fund renovation projects at the termini.

"People close to the project said the Qataris appeared to be particularly interested in investing in the renovation planned in central Birmingham, where one of the biggest new stations in Britain in a century will be built at Curzon Street.

"Developers plan to build 2,000 new homes and 600,000 square metres of office space around the new Birmingham station, with the aim of transforming the area using a similar model to London’s King’s Cross station redevelopment.

"There are also plans for a major redevelopment at Old Oak Common in west London, where HS2 will meet Crossrail, described by some as the “Canary Wharf of the west.”

"At the same time HS2 is drawing up plans to create a new company called Regenco in partnership with London and Continental Railways to buy up land around the stations on the route.

"The aim of the new body is to oversee regeneration work along the line, with the potential for thousands of new homes and new commercial real estate.

"Officials believe that Qatar could be persuaded to invest alongside Regenco in some of these schemes. 'We think it’s right up their street,' one said."

Nicky Gavron AM: "Our visit to Old Oak Common and Park Royal"

Link to web site

"Next month the Assembly will decide whether to approve the creation of a Mayoral Development Corporation for the Old Oak Common and Park Royal Area. The convergence of HS2 and Crossrail on a 50 hectare-plus brownfield site represents one of the greatest opportunities for regeneration in London’s history, but we need to make sure that the Mayor’s vision for Old Oak is the right one, and that a Mayoral Development Corporation is the best way to implement that vision.

"Yesterday I joined Assembly Members from all parties on a site visit to Old Oak Common and Park Royal. The visit followed on from the Planning Committee’s meeting this summer, and highlights our continuing scrutiny of the Mayor’s plans."

Sat 15 Nov: Grand Union Alliance Conference

GUA Conference Programme (Final)-13

Transport for London: "London Overground capacity improvement works – improvements at Willesden Junction station"

ChiswickW4: "HS2: Calls for Ealing residents to be compensated"

Link to web site

"Residents affected by the High Speed Rail Link (HS2) through parts of Ealing should be compensated according to a new alliance.

"Ealing Council has joined forces with Camden and Hillingdon to call on the government to grant 'A fair deal for London' on HS2 compensation.

"... Amanda Souter, chair of Wells House Road Residents’ Association in Old Oak Common said:

"We are facing the prospect of living with constant construction for 24 hours, seven days a week for up to a decade. At some points we will be completely cut off from vital amenities such as shops, transport, doctors and churches and children will have journeys of an hour or more to get to local schools only minutes away. However HS2 ltd. has failed to recognise our community’s unique circumstances in offering any form of compensation."

Possible Old Oak Common access roads (not to mention a Harlesden Bypass)

1943: The Abercrombie Plan just widened the Harrow Road
(Click to enlarge images)

1967: What was now a 'Harrow Road Bypass'
was alongside the West Coast Main Line

2014: A possible
North Circular - to - Old Oak Common link road
(The location to cross the Dudding Hill rail line needs refining)

... and extending to Scrubs Lane
(These are not GLA-adopted suggestions)

Evening Standard: HS2 Compensation, and Midland Terrace, North Acton

[Reposted] Sat 15 Nov: Grand Union Alliance conference on Old Oak Common and surrounds

2014-11 Old Oak Common Conference