Green Living Day comes to Walpole Park

Cllr Mahfouz taking part in a previous Compost Giveaway

Local residents can find out about how to live more sustainably and reduce their impact on the environment at a green living event next month.

Taking place at Walpole Park, Ealing on Saturday, 6 May from 10am until 2pm, the event will be packed with useful recycling and composting information and woodworking and carving demonstrations. It will also include a compost give away, seed and plant swaps, and children’s green crafts including weaving with dogwood.

The compost giveaway will begin at 8 am – two hours before the main Green Living Day event – and residents may take up to two loads of compost until noon, after which it will be unlimited. This is in order to ensure that everyone gets a fair opportunity to collect compost.

Representatives from the Friends of Pitzhanger Manor House & Gallery and Walpole Park; Transition Town, Ealing and Northfields allotments will also be on hand to talk to residents about their work in the local community.

Dr Bike will be running a session where local people can get help and advice on all things cycling, as well as a free basic service for their bike.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet member for environment, transport and leisure said: “I encourage local residents to come down to wonderful Walpole Park next month for Green Living Day. The event will include fun activities for the family and provide really useful information on helping our environment through the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle.

“We will always fully support residents to recycle as much as possible and since the launch of the council’s alternate weekly collection service last year, we have seen recycling rates rise six percentage points. We are meeting our ambitious target of recycling more than 50 per cent of household waste a year ahead of schedule, at a time where rates are falling nationally and across London.”

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On your marks for the Ealing Sports Awards

Do you know an outstanding sportsperson who deserves the plaudits? How about a great coach or sports club making a real difference in the community? Well now is the time to help recognise sporting achievements across the borough and give our local champions the credit they deserve.

You could win yourself a year’s free leisure membership just by nominating (from 20 February) someone for the new Ealing Sports Awards, which has been created by Ealing Council and local leisure provider Everyone Active. The inaugural event gives residents the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of local people playing and coaching sport across the borough.

You can nominate one of the many sports clubs, inspirational volunteers and sporting individuals for the awards, and the winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held on 13 July. All nine of the award categories are inclusive, and are open to any club, organisation, group, association, partnership or individual based in the borough.

The categories are:

• Junior Club of the Year
• Sports Club of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Adult Volunteer of the Year
• Junior Volunteer of the Year
• Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award
• Inclusive and Active Award
• Adult Sports Person of the Year
• Junior Sports Person of the Year.

By making a nomination, your name will automatically be entered into a prize draw for a chance of winning a year’s free Everyone Active membership.

The Ealing Sports Awards ceremony will also include the hugely popular London Youth Games Reception which celebrates Team Ealing’s performance at the annual London-wide sports event, where young people have the opportunity to represent the borough in a wide range of different sports competitions.

Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, the council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, said: “We are blessed across the borough with exceptional and inspirational people helping people get active and involved through sports.

“The inaugural Ealing Sports Awards are all about recognising those in our local community that show dedication to the sports they love, and those that help others play, learn and discover sport.

“Ealing is one of the very best places in the capital to get involved with sport. With phenomenal individuals, clubs and facilities that engage people of all ages and backgrounds that are helping people of the borough lead healthier, happier, longer lives.

“Residents have a great opportunity to honour the athletes, coaches, clubs and organisations that really deserve acclaim and I encourage everyone to get their nominations in as soon possible.”

How do I nominate or find out more?

Nominations open on 20 February and close at midnight on 31 May and all short-listed nominees will be contacted by 9 June. For further information and to nominate someone for the Ealing Sports Awards, visit www.everyoneactive.com/EalingSportsAwards

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Big Top Creeks with Laughter

Funny man Alan Davies has been unveiled as the headliner for the opening night of Ealing Comedy Festival.

Famous for his hit TV series Jonathan Creek, Alan Davies will be on stage with comic legend Barry Cryer and Paul Sinha on Thursday, 14 July in Walpole Park.

The festival, which is run by Ealing Council, takes place on Thursday, 14 and Friday, 15 July and continues for three nights the following week from Wednesday, 20 July, with the closing gala on Friday, 22 July.

Renowned satirist Stephen K. Amos will be performing on Friday, 15 July. Followed by Andy Parsons of Mock The Week fame on Wednesday, 20 July, television comic Seann Walsh on Thursday, 21 July and Shappi Korsandi as the host for the festival’s closing gala on Friday, 22 July.

The council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “The comedy festival is a truly rare opportunity for people to enjoy a great selection of comedians in a beautiful setting. There is always a fantastic atmosphere in the big top tent and it is definitely an experience you never forget. I would encourage anyone that hasn’t been before to go online and book their tickets.”

Tickets are on sale now via www.ealingsummerfestivals.com at £20 per night (excluding booking fees). Children over the age of 15 can attend but need to be accompanied by an adult and this is strictly at their own discretion. Alcohol cannot be brought onto the site. Re-entry allowed.

The event takes place in Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing W5 5EQ. Gates open at 6.30pm and shows start at 7.45pm.

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Greenford Carnival in Ravenor Park this Saturday

Community spirit will be at the centre of this year’s Greenford Carnival in Ravenor Park this Saturday.

The free, family-friendly event will celebrate Greenford’s vibrant community with food, music and entertainment from the area from 12:15-7pm on Saturday July 2.

Up and coming young stars  including headliners Et Tu Brucé, indie folk musician Jacob March, rapper Kyroe and Bollywood dance group Love the Beat make up the music programme for the day.

The carnival is jointly organised by the council and members of the community.

The council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, said:  “The carnival has stood the test of time and offers something exciting and fun for all the family to enjoy.

“It is always really lovely to see so many people out in the sun — hopefully — supporting local acts up on the main stage.

“Topped off with lots of fun things to do and eat, it’s a great day out.”

Greenford Carnival takes place in Ravenor Park, UB6 with gates opening at noon, music from 12.15pm to 7pm. Entry is free.

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Ealing gears up for National Bike Week

Ealing Council will be celebrating National Bike Week by encouraging residents and its staff to cycle more.

During Bike Week from Saturday, 11 to Sunday, 19 June, the council will be offering free cycle maintenance checks with Dr Bike, holding guided social bike rides and reminding people about the free cycle training provided by the council.

Dr Bike cycle checks will be held at various locations from 4-7pm:
• 13 June at Greenford Town Centre on the corner of Oldfield Lane and Ruislip Road.
• 14 June at Melbourne Avenue, West Ealing,
• Wednesday 15 June at Hanwell Clock Tower,
• Thursday 16 June at Acton Market, outside Morrisons,
• Friday 17 June at Southall Square, outside Lidl
• Sunday June 19 at Haven Green, by the cycle hub from 2-5pm.

Our monthly Dr Bike outside the library at West Ealing will take place as normal from 2-5pm on Saturday, 18 June.

On Wednesday, 15 June Ealing Cycling Campaign will lead cyclists on its Sunset Ride to Richmond Hill. They will take a quiet route on back streets and will stop outside the Roebuck pub in Richmond. To join the ride, meet in front of the Town Hall at 7pm.

Council staff are encouraged to cycle to work and there is an interest free cycle loan scheme for employees. Folding bikes are also available to borrow by staff who need to travel on business. During Bike Week there will be guided cycle rides for staff in their lunch breaks.

Ealing has also launched a campaign to encourage more women to cycle as part of its new Women on Wheels campaign or Ealing WOW as it is also known.
Activities over the summer will include women-only cycle rides, cycle maintenance classes and cycle training. The campaign features women who live and work in the borough who love to cycle.

Among them is Erika Severini who works in Ealing who has cycled for more than 20 years and even rode her bike to hospital to have her first baby. Now a mother of two, Erika and her husband take the children on family cycle rides. She said: “The perception around cycling is that it’s unsafe especially for children to be on the roads and this is stopping families from getting out and about on their bikes. However with all the support available including, free cycle training sessions including ones specifically for families, social rides, it makes it much easier. Give it a try.”

On Sunday, 26 June Ealing will be holding its annual Ticket to Ride event from 10am to 3pm. This will be a series of two-hour guided bike rides led at a leisurely pace by cycle marshals along towpaths and quieter streets through Greenford, Hanwell and Southall. Families, groups and nervous cyclists are particularly welcome. Rides are less than 10 miles and set off from either Northala Fields or the bandstand in Churchfield Recreation Ground every hour, on the hour, sign up for a ride at www.ealing.gov.uk/cycleride or just turn up on the day.

Cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “I cycle to work most days and as a council we are committed to supporting more people to cycle. That’s why we are taking part in Bike Week but we have activities and training throughout the year so I would encourage people to look at our website to find out more.

“I would also like to thank our Ealing Women on Wheels role models who are sharing their experiences of cycling to encourage other women get on their bikes. We know that a lot of women are reluctant to cycle because they worry about safety or feel they don’t have the time. That’s why we are reminding everyone about our free cycle training whether a woman wants to feel more confident commuting or wants to cycle more for pleasure.”

For more information on cycle training and Dr Bike checks, please visit www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling and www.ealing.gov.uk/wow

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Ealing Council announces the 2016 dates for Ealing Summer Festivals

Ealing Council will transform Ealing’s green spaces again this summer filling the calendar with a jam-packed schedule of laughs, music, carnival festivities and culinary delights.

The first weekend of July sees Ealing Common become a giant smorgasbord of gastronomic delights with the first ever Eat, Drink, Ealing event, a thrilling, new addition to the programme.

West London’s largest comedy, jazz and blues festivals will be back in Walpole Park in July delivering another year of top-tier acts, with performances from festival veterans and untapped local talent.

Greenford and Acton carnivals return with their celebration of the vibrant local communities from which they emerged.  A procession will be heading towards Acton Park on Saturday, 9 July and is set to be bursting with glittering handmade costumes, electrifying tunes and contagious vibes.

The council’s cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “These dates are definitely ones for the diary. There will be great events taking place all over the borough, bringing a top class line up of musicians, comedians and artists to Ealing. Make sure you’re following Ealing Summer Festivals on all the usual social media channels to be the first to hear about special offers and who will be headlining.”

There will be child-friendly areas at all the events and The Events Umbrella will continue its commitment to putting on eco-friendly festivals and the preservation of the borough’s revered green areas.

Dates for Ealing Summer festivals 2016:
Greenford Carnival – Saturday 18 June, Ravenor Park, UB6
Eat, Drink, Ealing  – Saturday 2 July and Sunday 3 July, Ealing Common, W5
CAMRA’s Ealing Beer Festival – Wednesday 6 to Saturday 9 July, Walpole Park, W5
Acton Carnival – Saturday 9 July, Acton Park, W3
Comedy – Thursday 14 and Friday 15 and Wednesday 20 July to Friday 22 July, Walpole Park, W5
Blues – Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July, Walpole Park, W5
Jazz – Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July, Walpole Park, W5

Follow Ealing Summer @Ealing_Summer on Twitter, ealing_summer on Instagram and like us at https://www.facebook.com/ealingsummer on Facebook. You can also find more information on the website at www.ealingsummerfestivals.com and check out the festival guide, artist details and schedules.

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Children given the chance to play in the street

Ealing Council is inviting residents to set up their own PlayStreet to allow children to play safely in their roads.

During a PlayStreet, the road is closed for up to three hours so that children can have fun and play safely. PlayStreets are set up and run by residents but the council provides them with the required documents and applies for a temporary traffic order on their behalf so that the road can be closed.

There are 25 PlayStreets across the borough and once a PlayStreet has been set up they can be held monthly in the same street. Setting up the first event takes around eight weeks to allow time for organisers to consult with their neighbours and process the road closure order.

Cabinet member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “With spring around the corner PlayStreets offer a great opportunity to reclaim your road and make it safe for kids to enjoy playing in the street. It’s also a fantastic chance to meet and get to know your neighbours and rekindle that community spark.

“Everyone I have spoken to who have introduced one in their street feels it has had such a positive effect. I’d encourage residents to come forward, setting one up is child’s play.”

Vanessa Folley from Beaumont Road, Chiswick wrote after one PlayStreet: “Heaps of people came out including a family who moved in last week – how great to welcome them with that. People are already talking about the next one so all in all a huge success.”

More information on how to get involved can be found at www.ealing.gov.uk/playstreets

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