At present, Crossrail are only proposing to carry out minor 'cosmetic' work at Hanwell station. These include:

• Improved cycle storage areas
• Installation or upgrade of passenger information display
• platform lighting
• CCTV
• new signage & platform furniture

There are no plans to install lifts. Passengers at Hanwell station have to climb 34 steps to each platform level. The station is not suitable for the disabled and those with young children or people with heavy suitcases.

There are no plans to re-open the Elthorne entrance or to increase the service from two trains per hour. Hanwell residents could miss out on this multibillion pound project.

The issue of the poor services and lack of lifts proposed by the Crossrail project was first raised in our Intouch newsletter, which we delivered across the ward in January 2009. This followed Rosa's visit to a Crossrail exhibition in Acton where she was horrified to discover what was then proposed by this scheme for Hanwell Station.

Rosa learned then that in 2005 the government, in which our MP Steve Pound is a sitting member, gave Crossrail dispensation for few stations along its route to be DDA compliant. One of these was Hanwell. It was the then Ealing Labour administration that failed to safeguard its residents’ need on the issues of poor services (only two per hour as at present although with the introduction of a Sunday service) or for lifts at this station.

Since then Rosa and a number of Cabinet members have met up with various managers and directors both from Crossrail and from TfL. It is not a coincidence that this administration has spent the last year debating the Crossrail scheme along the whole length of Ealing in a specialist scrutiny panel in which she is a member.

If you live around the station area, then you would have received a leaflet inviting residents to our meeting on 17^th Sept. 09 to discuss Hanwell Station. This very leaflet was also delivered outside the station prior to the meeting.

35 Hanwell residents attended that meeting and all had a chance to have their say. Unfortunately our MP Steve Pound did not. Regular updates have also been given at our Ward Forum meetings.

The work of the Crossrail scrutiny panel is now nearing the end. On our last meeting we will be agreeing our recommendations to our Cabinet members, to TfL, to Crossrail and BR all of which have sent representatives to all our meetings.

The recommendations which will affect Hanwell Station will be:

1. Reopen the Elthorne entrance in Station Approach
2. Install lifts at the station (sympathetic with this Grade II listed building)
3. Increase services to at least 4 per hours (6 will be the accepted norm)
4. Retain some service to Heathrow (at the moment it is proposed for this to end when Crossrail start to run)
5. Improved bus connections to the station for our residents (including a bus link to Ealing hospital)

As you can see, this administration is not the one who has been inactive – on the contrary!

Conservatives working hard for its residents

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The new shelter in the Churchfield recreation ground has been erected. The bins, benches and goal posts paid for by Hobbayne Ward Forum are now in place.

The pond in the Animal Centre has been restored. The old cages and rear buildings by the pond have been demolished. A larger, modern structure, set in a newly landscaped garden, will be erected in their place. This facility will provide excellent accommodation for our monkeys as well as for a variety of birds.

Work on the Animal Centre in the Brent River Park is continuing at a rapid pace with the help of the community Payback scheme, who have been busy in the former British Nature enclosure. This will house domestic animals such as chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits.