One of the reasons why I believe that I have the best job in the world is the utter unpredictability of the issues that matter to my Ealing North constituents.
Holding two advice “surgeries” every week means that I have a pretty good feel for current concerns but I could never have anticipated that the largest number of letters and e-mails that I’ve received in the past week relate to a fast food take away in Acton.
Although Twyford Church of England High School is not in Ealing North many of my constituents have children or family there and the universal expression of fury that has erupted has left me as breathless as if I’d been on a diet of deep fried extruded chicken remnants for months.
What’s happened is that a franchisee has identified Twyford as an excellent location that included proximity to the old Gin Palace – now The Redback – and Acton High School. No doubt the franchisee sees this as a real money maker.
My concern, and the concern of many a Twyford person, is that a fat dripping carbohydrate heavy chemically flavoured and coloured “chicken” nugget could well be an attractive option to High School pupils but not only represents a direct challenge to the government’s widely endorsed anti-obesity strategy but would inevitably become a gathering place that will lead to the sort of problems that – frankly – we just don’t need.
Maybe Ealing Council should have consulted the school before approving this planning application, maybe the government should legislate to ensure that schools have some say in issues that may lie outside the boundary but are directly relevant and possibly the innate good sense and maturity of Twyford pupils will ensure that takings over the greasy counter are not as high as the franchisee would avariciously long for but one thing I am certain of – unhealthy food should not be sold on the very doorstep of a school and I made the point directly to the Secretary of State for Education when Twyford Head Teacher, Alice Hudson, local MP Andy Slaughter and I met Ed Balls recently.
As I said above; I can never guess what will be the issue that seizes the imagination of the people of Ealing North and while I relish the variety I really could do without this sort of problem which is nothing to do with a difference of opinion or a local preference for one policy over another but entirely one of commercial greed encouraging physical greed.
Do you agree with Steve? Post a comment below.
