UP FRONT
Learning new habits
“I think it is amazing that the school is trying to use less
plastic,” said Arshpreet, a year 8 pupil at Featherstone
High – where hundreds of pieces of plastic have been
cut from daily use.
It is not always quick and easy to change everyday
culture in large organisations, but Featherstone High
in Southall has taken huge steps towards banishing all
single-use plastic.
The school has swapped to metal cutlery, with magnetic
bins to avoid knives or forks being thrown away accidentally;
crockery instead of non-recyclable bowls; compostable boxes
instead of polystyrene ones; and free, reusable mugs for staff
instead of throwaway coffee cups.
Last, but not least, banks of drinking fountains were installed for the
pupils to use with a reusable Featherstone water bottle (designed by
a year 10 student) that they bring in every day – this removed 2,400
single-use plastic bottles per week from the school.
Headteacher Gerry Wadwa said: “Our students are very aware of the daily
headlines about the huge environmental problems caused by single-use
plastics and decided to try and make a real difference to our daily habits.”
Read the full story at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/features/
victory-over-plastic
New homes
A new development of council
homes in Northolt has now opened,
offering local families affordable,
modern homes. The 27 homes at
Newcastle Court include 13 that
will be let by Ealing Council, five
of which are much-needed family
homes of four bedrooms each.
The other homes consist of 14 flats
available for shared ownership
and four three-bed flats for private sale – proceeds from
which will be used to offset the cost of the homes that the
council will let.
Read more at ealingnewsextra.co.uk/latest-news
8
around ealing February/March 2020
Every week the school has stopped using:
4,000 pieces of plastic cutlery
2,400 single use water bottles
2,000 polystyrene bowls
400 paper coffee cups
200 polystyrene take away boxes
Mayor elections
With the elections for the next mayor of
London and the Greater London Assembly
(GLA) coming up on Thursday, 7 May, residents
are being reminded to make sure they are
registered to vote.
Everyone must register themselves individually.
The deadline for registering to vote in person
is Tuesday, 21 April. The deadline for postal
votes is 5pm on Wednesday, 22 April. And The
deadline to register for a new proxy vote is
5pm on Wednesday, 29 April (any changes to
an existing proxy vote must be done by 5pm
on Wednesday, 22 April).
For more information on the
elections visit www.london.gov.uk or
www.londonelects.org.uk