Ealing Council has dispatched crime busting hit squads to Northolt and Greenford to scrub out the appalling graffiti from more than 125 shops and offices – for free.

In a blitz-style operation that will last three weeks, the council will be supporting traders whose premises are constantly targeted by a handful of mindless vandals intent on making the towns look ugly and threatening.

The council would normally charge businesses £94 to pay for graffiti to be removed. However, town hall bosses have decided the traders have suffered enough and will clean up their premises for free.

Labour Cllr John Delaney, cabinet member for streets and environment, said: “Traders and residents told us they needed help and we have responded.

“It is just a handful of anti-social yobs who leave their tags everywhere and cause such a big problem, but the council and the community are united and strong and more than a match for them.”

The work, which is ongoing, began during the first week of February and will last until the end of the month.

Graffiti has already been removed from more than 25 premises in Northolt, in Church Road, Mandeville Road and Station Parade.

There are around 100 premises – in Greenford Town Centre, in The Broadway and Greenford Road – which will be cleaned up free of charge.

The council also completed a huge clear-up of graffiti in Greenford last year. Its contractors put anti-graffiti coatings on a number of walls to make future removal much easier.

Councillor Delaney added: “What we must do know is catch the villains responsible for blighting our borough with graffiti.

“I would urge anyone with information on who is doing this to call Ealing Council’s graffiti hotline on 020 8825 6711 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Last night (22 Feb), the Council’s Licencing Sub-Committee considered the proposals put forward by Fullers for the White Hart Pub in Northolt.

Around 100 local residents had opposed the new proposed hours of 3am on the weekends and many had attended the meeting to voice their opinions alongside local Councillor, Bassam Mahfouz.

The application for extension of hours had attracted more opposition than any other application in the borough and was the only pub in Northolt to apply for such a late licence.

The council’s committee decided after having listened to reprentations from both sides that the Pub would be allowed to open to Midnight (Mon-Sat) and 11:30pm (Sundays). A number of conditions were placed on this extension with entertainment having to be restricted by a sound limiter, the outside areas of the pub (garden and frontage) could not be used for entertainment and there would have to be stricter control over glass and other objects leaving the establishment. A number of other restrictions were also placed by the police and by environmental health, which were agreed to by the pub’s landlord and owners.

Cllr Bassam Mahfouz, who had been working closely with local residents on this said,

The monthly meeting with the local Safer Neighbourhood Police Team will be held this Monday afternoon at Gainsborough Tower on the Medlar Farm Estate.

If you would like full details of the time of the meeting call 07949 10 46 56.

For the contact details for the local police team, e-mail bassam.mahfouz@ealing.gov.uk

An on site public meeting will be held on:
Saturday 18th February 2006, at the Northala Fields Visitor Cabin between 10:30-12:00noon.

Representatives from CJ Pryors, Ealing Council and the Northolt and Greenford Countryside Park Society will be present at the meeting.

This is an opportunity to answer questions about the new park development and show proposed plans for the focal core and visitor centre.

All are welcome.

It’s half-term and the kids are off school – but they’re bored already and there’s still a whole week left!

Here are some ideas of free or cheap ideas of what they can do locally:

Sports Activities at West London Academy or in Greenford or Southall
The West London Academy for instance are hosting afternoon activity sessions which include a bouncy castle, mini tennis, basketball, football and trampolining. There is no need to book for these sessions just turn up, pay and play. (Under 8’s must be accompanied by an adult at all times).
Time: 12-3pm Ages: 6-13 years.

Kids Swim for Free
Kids can swim for free between 2-4pm at Northolt Swimarama, Gurnell Leisure Centre, Acton Baths or Dormers Wells swimming pool every day over half-term.

Fancy a bit of monkeying around?
Meet the newest arrivals to Brent Lodge Park (Bunny Park) in Church Road, Hanwell. New baby tamarins were recently born at the Park’s animal centre and they join the many other animals which can be seen at this wonderful sanctuary. Most of the animals can be seen for free at the park with a small charge if you want to go into the indoor centre (£1 adults, 50p children). The E1 and E3 bus routes take you closest to the park. The park is open from 10:30am-4pm.

Attractions in London
Remember that Museums and galleries such as the Natural History, Science and British Museums are free entry and there are many discounts available for other great London attractions when you visit and show your oyster card (travelcard). Click on the header for more details.

If you would like more information on any of the activities then please click on the relevant links above.

Let us know if you found this list helpful or how the kids found the activities available by e-mailing Cllr Bassam Mahfouz