Local Authority

Concerns were still being raised over the lack of a medical centre in the Hanger Hill ward.

Free electric blanket tests are being offered after three were found to be potentially lethal.

The council's Trading Standards officers and the London Fire Brigade will be testing the bed warmers to make sure they are safe for use during the cold weather.

Last year, 30 out of 52 were found to be unsafe and three described as lethal hazards.

Deborah Lewis of Greenford, who owned one of the dangerous blankets last year, said: "I had no idea my blanket was so dangerous until it was tested and I was shocked when I was told I could have been electrocuted.

"I would encourage everyone who uses one, or knows someone else who does, to get it tested.

"I may not have been here now if I hadnÕt gone along last year."

Clive MacDonald who carries out the testing, said: "Three blankets were an immediate and potentially lethal hazard.

"Two had access to live parts and could have electrocuted users and the third had scorch marks from overheating; this could easily have caused a house fire."

Vouchers will be given to residents whose blankets fail the safety test and cannot be fixed on site to help towards the cost of a replacement.

Free energy saving lightbulbs will also be distributed, along with information on fire safety and consumer advice.

Anyone with a blanket more than three years old should make an appointment for the event at Ealing Fire Station on Saturday, 29 November between 10am and 4pm.

Blankets can be brought in person or dropped off at the following points around the borough:

Southall Communities Alliance, 10 High Street, Southall
Ealing CarersÕ Centre, 46 South Ealing Road
Greenford Library, Oldfield Lane South
Acton Library, High Street Acton

For an appointment for a safety check and to confirm drop-off times, call 020 8825 6086.

Anyone with an electric blanket should follow these top tips:
Check for any exposed wires, scorch marks or tears before using the blanket
Do not use an electric under-blanket with orthopaedic mattresses
Have the blanket checked at least every three years by an expert
Do not switch on an electric blanket if it is wet
Don't use a hot water bottle with your electric blanket
Always switch the electric under blanket off before getting into bed

Nearly 40,000 tonnes of waste has been saved from landfill after the Council's £3 million pound recycling project was launched last year.

Recycling rates have increased consistently with more than 30 per cent of products being re-used or converted into electricity or fertilizer.

Since November 19 last year with the introduction of the mixed plastics collections, the equivalent of 29 million bottles have been recycled.

Garden waste collection has also doubled and more than 40 tonnes of autumn leaves have been turned into compost.

The council is proud of the borough's recycling success and said tax payer's would benefit in the long run as the cost of landfill tax is set to rise from £32 a tonne to £50 a tonne by 2010-11.

Councillor Sue Emment, Cabinet member for Environment and Street Services, said: "It's brilliant to see that residents have really taken on board all the changes that we have made to improve the service.

"Recycling rates have never been so good and we should all be proud of what we have achieved.

"We've always believed that if you make it easy for people then they will recycle.

"The huge improvement in recycling rates over the last year proves that's true and I hope the borough's recycling rates will continue to go from strength to strength.

"Of course when any new service is rolled out there will always be some issues that need to be worked through and we would like to thank residents for being patient while we've dealt with these."

For more information about recycling visit www.ealing.gov.uk/recycling

Bus lanes will be opened up for motorcyclists next year as part of a trial scheme to reduce congestion in the borough.

From January, motorbikes will be able to use all Ealing bus lanes and research will be carried out to monitor the impact on congestion, road safety and the affect on cyclists.

This 18-month trial coincides with a similar scheme announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson last month which allows bikers to use bus lanes operated by Transport for London (TfL) on red routes.

If the scheme in Ealing is successful, it will be made permanent.

Councillor David Millican, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: "There's a whole network of bus lanes stretching across the borough.

"It seems much more sensible to allow motorbikes to use those lanes to help them get through traffic more quickly without having to weave between cars.

"We'll be carrying out research throughout the 18-month period to see what impact the scheme has."

The Cabinet also agreed new criteria for bus lanes such as standardising operation times and ensuring each bus lane is clearly signed.

The development of affordable family homes for rent on an overcrowded estate is now a step closer to completion.

Two developers have now made the shortlist to regenerate the Green Man Lane Estate in West Ealing after a survey of residents last year revealed dozens of families were living in small one and two bedroom flats.

Rydon Construction working with A2Dominion Housing and Countryside Properties working with London and Quadrant Housing Trust will now hold public exhibitions to show their ideas for the area.

The redevelopment will provide more affordable family homes and those for private ownership and dark alleyways and unused paths will be removed to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Will Brooks, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: "This is another important step forward for the regeneration of the Green Man Lane estate.

"The developers have come up with some really interesting ideas already and I'm sure residents will be keen to come along to the exhibitions to find out more about the proposals.

"It might seem like a slow process, but it's really important that we get this right and develop the kind of homes that will meet the needs of our residents both for now and for future generations."

The Council is also in the process of selecting developers for Copley Close and Rectory Park estates.

All three areas were prioritised for action after a review of 34 estates in the borough showed they were in desperate need of improvement.

A long serving Labour European Member of Parliament is stepping down at next year's elections.

Robert Evans MEP for London was first elected as an MEP for London North West in 1994 and re-elected in 1999 and 2004.

Mr Evans cites the new European law prohibiting discrimination against disabled passengers on aeroplanes as his greatest achievement.

The Labour MEP said: "It has been an honour to serve the people of London since 1994 but there does come a time to seek new challenges.

"I am immensely proud to have played my part in improving the lives of the British people and making a difference in the European Parliament."

The Police are urging elderly women to stay alert after a spate of robberies in the Elthorne Ward.

Borough Commander, Sultan Taylor is advising women to avoid using bank machines after dark and also placing large sums of money in bags and instead zipped up in pockets and on their person.

This warning comes after a number of elderly women were robbed by a black male, in his early 20s with short black hair and wearing a navy blue boxed-quilted type coat.

For further information, call 020 7161 9175 or 0208 721 2951.

Householders around Ealing Common are to be quizzed about new parking restrictions in February.

Residents will be asked whether they want parking zone D to be in operation all year, as in neighbouring zone C in a bid to cut the growing numbers of students parking in the area.

Currently, zone D is operational from October 1 to June 30, allowing motorists three months free parking.

But complaints have been lodged with Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Ball from neighbours who say Thames Valley University students stop people parking near their homes during the summer months.

Councillor Ball said: "The CPZ was first introduced around Thames Valley University during term-time only but since then, there are a lot more summer courses available with students parking outside residents' houses."

He added: "Many people in the borough are elderly and if they have mobility problems, they have to park a long way away from their homes which is not right and we welcome the proposed restriction extension."

The consultation will include residents in Zone C and D and will be rolled out in February 2009.

Fears are being raised that two million pounds of Ealing taxpayers' money could be lost during the financial turmoil facing Icelandic banks.

The council has two million pounds invested in the Icelandic bank Glitnir which has been taken over by the Icelandic Financial Services Authority.

Now concerns are mounting that if the bank is nationalised, the council will be at the end of a long queue to get the money back.

Labour Leader, Cllr Julian Bell said: "I have seen documents from February 2007 which stated it would be a risky option investing the money in Glitnir.

"Although we could not have foreseen the current financial turmoil, the warnings should have been heeded.

"I am concerned that the council is not being straight with people and have only said they are not involved in the banks which are failing such as Landesbanki.

"But they have £2m invested in Icelandic bank Glitnir and being overseas investors, we are at the back of the queue to get our money back.

"It won't affect services provided as the council has balances but we will just have to wait and see what happens."

A council spokesperson said they were reassuring residents that there will be no adverse impact on council services.

The spokesperson said: "Ealing Council has no investments in the failed Icelandic banks Landesbanki and Heritable and have followed best practice to spread its investments as widely as possible to ensure the maximum return for our investments without compromising the safety of the council's cash.

"Risk management plays a fundamental role in our investment activities, and due to the value of transactions involved safety and risk awareness always remains the priority over returns."

Sheep shearing and fish filleting crash courses for teachers may have to be taken if limits on non-EU migrant workers are approved.

The Chief executive, Darra Singh, criticised the government's Migration Advisory Committee proposals to curb the list of jobs open to migrants, claiming it would have a devastating impact on local government staff shortages.

Mr Singh is appealing to local governments to voice concerns about the 'draconian limits' in order to avoid shortages in social care, planning and trading standards.

He said: "The reality is that there are many occupations where we struggle to recruit and retain skilled staff.
"If we are to restrict those coming to our country we have to know that our existing population can fill the current skills gap.

"We need a coherent policy that understands the relationships between skills shortages, housing, immigration and regeneration if our country is to prosper both economically and socially.

"The alternative is to start running ballet classes for town planners and get teachers to take crash courses in sheep shearing or fish filleting in the school holidays."

The final shortage occupation list is due to be published by the Home Office next month.