Last updated: September 26th 2008 

Houses - Annual Subscriptions
The Estate is managed entirely by volunteers and your £30 annual subscription is an extremely modest charge to pay for maintenance of all the service roads and communal gardens as well as projects such as the installation of service gates. So if you have not paid yet, please do so as it was due in January! Houses committee members collect from door to door and will always present their ID and give you a receipt. If you have missed the collection, please send or drop off a cheque (made out to HHGERA) or cash directly to Victor Jundi, the association Treasurer, at 187 Princes Gardens. He will be happy to answer any general questions about the Estate. Accounts for 2007 were circulated at the AGM.

Street Lights
The next phase of upgrading the street lights was delayed yet again but latest news from Ealing Council is that work will commence in Monks Drive by the middle of October. Unfortunately, there is no start date yet for Tudor Gardens and Queens Drive remains on the schedule for 2009/10. September 26th 2008

Beware bogus callers
As the evenings get darker, a reminder to be wary of bogus callers and distraction burglaries by people coming to the door. If in doubt about callers, always check - ask to see ID, and if still doubtful call their head office or the police. September 20, 2007

Greetings card project
After the success of last year's HHGERA calendar, the Flats Committee has decided to create a small pack of greetings cards featuring images of the Estate, to sell around the end of the year.  Further details will be posted on the website when designs, prices and venues have been finalised. August 18th 2008

Residents Association 2008 Annual General meeting
The 2008 AGM was held on Tuesday April 29 at the Church of the Holy Family, Vale lane. Minutes are available by clicking here.  May 16th 2008

Houses Volunteer Subscription Collectors needed
Can anyone spare a little time to help collect Houses Residents Association annual subscriptions? All house occupants are asked to pay £30 a year toward the running of the Estate. The money pays for maintenance of the gardens, clearing rubbish from service roads and other shared costs. If you can spare the time to help collect subscriptions, please contact Victor Jundi at 187 Princes Gardens. It only takes a few hours a year and is a good chance not only to give something back to the Estate, but also to get to know your neighbours! May 16th 2008

Service road gates
The new gates were closed and locked at the end of February. Keys are still available from the estate office at Japan Services, near West Acton station. For full details and updates, click the navigation link on the left. March 1, 2008

Boileau Parade post office closure plan
The sub-post office near North Ealing station is one of 171 in London scheduled to be closed under a rationalisation plan. The nearest other post offices are at West Acton and Hanger Lane. If you are concerned about this proposal, full details of the plan and consultation (which ends on April 4) are on the Post Office website. February 20, 2008

Waste disposal
Ealing Council has changed the rubbish collection arrangements so there is only one collection a week for all types of waste. You should have received a circular informing you which day and explaining improved recycling arrangements. If you live in a house, please leave rubbish bags and recycling boxes in your front garden, not on the pavement. Information on collection days, including special arrangements for weeks with bank holidays, can be found on the Ealing Council website. November 24, 2007

BBC depot redevelopment: Kendall Avenue phone mast
Good news: Ealing Planning Services have advised the residents association that the proposal for a 20-metre mast on the BBC site (for phone operator O2) has been deleted from the proposal for redevelopment of the site. This was at the request of Planning Services after they had received a large number of objections including petitions with hundreds of signatures.

A big thank you to everyone who objected and or organised petitions, including our local Ward Councillor Barbara Yerolemou, Residents Association Chairman Bill Bailey, Mrs Siu of Groveside Gardens and Mrs Treszczyhski of Churchill Gardens who organised petitions. September 26, 2007

Noel Road phone mast: West Acton station junction
Unfortunately, there is not such good news as well. Ealing Planning Services have advised us that: "A general development order applied for by Waldon Telecom (Agents) on behalf of Orange PCS for 'Installation of a 7m high slim-line telecommunications column; with associated equipment cabinet at ground level (56 Day Notice)' at Highways Land adjacent to 225 Noel Road was granted permission on 22 December 2006."

This despite representations from many areas. It apparently met all the criteria for Prior Approval (positioning, ICNIRP certificate, visual impact, Traffic light model etc). Basically it didn't require planning approval. September 26, 2007

Tram plan shelved
Plans for a tram line along Uxbridge Road could have directly affected the Estate by diverting traffic on to Queens Drive. On August 2, a carefully worded release from Ealing Council (which had strongly opposed the plan) and the Greater London Authority effectively announced the project's demise. Click here to read the full text of the release. August 10, 2007

Oak Processionary Moth
Ealing Council has inspected all the oak trees on residents association land and says it is confident that all cases of Oak Processionary Moth have been identified and treated. An infestation was first reported earlier this year in the Park Royal area. Oak Processionary Moth has come to the UK from the European mainland. Touching the caterpillars, or even walking under an affected tree, can cause weals, rashes and other allergic reactions. If you have oaks in your garden and are worried they may be affected, you should contact Ealing's Tree Services team on 020 8825 6572 or Neil Manning, Acting Tree Section Manager, on 020 8825 6685. Click here for more information from the Forestry Commission website.

Policing: Safer Neighbourhoods scheme
The Estate is covered by the Hanger Hill ward team under this recent policing initiative, which aims to identify and resolve minor crime and anti-social behavour quickly and to improve links with local communities. This is not a substitute for the 999 service, which should be called in case of emergency. Full details of the scheme are included under 'useful information'; the most recent update from the Hanger Hill team can be downloaded by clicking here.