REGENERATION
Back in business
picnic’; and also the SoundBite festival
(www.soundbitefestival.org), which has
started to establish itself as a yearly
destination for music lovers from across
Ealing and beyond.
Work is now taking place to install
‘up-lighting’ to trees and entrances to
make them more attractive, promote
the park as an outdoor venue for
events throughout the year and
encourage local people to make more
use of the green space the rest of
the time.
Natasha Patel of West Ealing
BID chatting to Arif Khan of
Farah hairdressers, one of the
BID members
Largely behind the scenes, a small partnership of
residents, businesses, voluntary organisations and
Ealing Council officers have been working together
to turn West Ealing’s fortunes around.
I
n just two-and-half years, the West
Ealing Partnership has helped
shape an environment that has
seen shop vacancy rates drop by
more than 25%, a new town centre
management company established
and more business start-ups moving in.
An underused park has also been put
back at the heart of the community.
With a new Crossrail station due to
open in 2018, bringing the promise of
34
around ealing
Spring 2015
development opportunities; and new
housing currently on the way; West
Ealing is witnessing positive signs of
growth at just the right time.
BRINGING PARK LIFE BACK
Dean Gardens has opened up its
gates to some exciting events, hosting
a Christmas market (www.w13christmasfair.co.uk); a roller skating
rink (www.rolladome.org.uk); the ‘big
MANAGING THE SUCCESS
There is a large number of
independent shops in West Ealing,
and a traders’ group which had already
been running for several years, but it
was decided to carry out a study to see
how they could all work together to
improve the trading environment.
A ballot was held in March 2014 –
and 87% of the eligible businesses that
participated voted in favour of setting
up a business improvement district
(BID), a company owned and funded
by all of these firms.
Funding is now raised from the
businesses (a levy is charged based on
their size) and is being used to fund a
West Ealing BID for five years to look
after joint services, safety, marketing,
events and other activities.
The BID has worked on an array
of projects, ranging from business
support, to creating a new website
www.inwestealing.co.uk (free for local
groups to use), to holding regular
meetings to discuss any concerns over
crime or anti-social behaviour.