Press Releases
Budget cash set to boost Hanwell (PR 1163)
Ealing Council has announced plans to spend more than £3million to breathe new life into Hanwell Community Centre and improve community facilities in the town centre.
The proposals include £2million for Hanwell Community Centre, plus £1million to be invested in regenerating the main shopping area.
Hanwell Community Centre is a Grade 2 listed building in desperate need of repair and English Heritage has identified it as being at risk. The Council is aiming to work with the centre's management committee to carry out desperately needed restoration, including structural work to repair a leaking roof and crumbling walls.
The Council is also set to extend the lease for the centre, making the management committee eligible to apply for Heritage Lottery Fund cash to enable other improvement works.
As part of the proposals the Council is also planning to move its training department to the community centre from Dickens Yard in Ealing Broadway, to develop a dual use facility.
Council Leader Jason Stacey said: "Hanwell Community Centre is not just a community centre, it is a community hub where people from all over the borough and beyond come to participate in various activities. It is an extremely well used centre but in real need of repair.
"No one believes the restoration is going to be a smooth path but what the management committee and users of the centre needed more than anything was a commitment from this council that we are serious about its future. This £2 million investment will begin this long process and the council is looking forward to working in partnership with the centre’s management committee in the coming months and years."
The Council has also announced a £1million investment to improve Hanwell Town Centre. Shoppers and traders alike will benefit with cash being spent to improve street furniture and to work with traders who want to improve their shop fronts and displays.
Council Leader Jason Stacey said "Hanwell is one of the borough’s smaller but nonetheless important town centres. Visitors to the town centre have often commented on the need for improvements to the environment and streetscape in the town and this investment is designed to address those concerns.
"The Council will be conducting consultation with residents,
traders and users of Hanwell town centre to see precisely what they
would like to see this money spent on and the council will be
reporting back on this in due course."
The budget proposals are due to be discussed and formally
agreed at a meeting of the Council on 4 March.