LEADER’S
NOTES
“We will finally have a new
cinema in Ealing.”
Councillor Julian Bell
Leader of the council
W
e know many hard-working
people struggle to get by and
low wages are impacting on
the quality of life our residents are able to
enjoy. People should be paid at a decent
rate by their employers. That is why the
council is offering up a total of £200,000
in business rate relief to encourage local
firms to pay at least the London Living
Wage. See page 33 for more.
Artist’s impression of how new cinema could look
I
am delighted to be able to report that we will – finally – have a new cinema in
Ealing after more than seven years.
Ealing’s town centre has been without one since September 2008 when
Empire Cinemas closed the cinema opposite Ealing Town Hall. Most of the
building was then demolished in February 2009 and thus has it stood since, wi th
scaffolding holding up the old art deco frontage.
As a council we decided it could not be left that way any longer and, after
discussions with Empire, eventually made a compulsory purchase order (CPO)
in July 2014 to acquire the land. The council had held a competitive selection
process which resulted in Land Securities being chosen to work with us to acquire
the site and underwrite all necessary CPO costs with a view to the company
developing an exciting, two-acre ‘cultural quarter’ with a new multi-screen cinema
at its heart, along with restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and homes.
Empire objected to the CPO and a 10-day inquiry was held in April-May this year.
It is with great pleasure that I can say the verdict has now come back – and the
objections were rejected. Therefore, the CPO can be progressed and we can
move on with our ambitious redevelopment which will bring this derelict site back
to life – the people of Ealing have waited long enough. Work should start in 2016
and complete in 2018.
P
art of the annual cycle at councils
across the country is budget
setting early in the new year.
Unfortunately, against the backdrop of
government cuts to council funding, it is
again a time we will be making difficult
decisions as we seek to meet our tough
savings target of £96million by April
2019. Please keep an eye on
www.ealing.gov.uk/news for information.
C
hristmas is such a crucial time
for almost every local business.
And, for every £1 you spend at
an independent business in your town
centre, between 50-70 pence circulates
back into the local economy. Shopping
locally supports the borough’s traders,
their suppliers and their employees as
well – who are usually local themselves.
It is something worth bearing in mind.
I wish everyone a merry Christmas and
a happy new year.
You can read more at www.ealing.gov.uk/news or see the spring edition of
Around Ealing in March.
around ealing
Winter 2015/16
5