Against the wishes of local civic societies, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), English Heritage and a massive public protest, the plans for 700 flats of 14 storeys in height plus retail shops were driven through Ealing Council on Wednesday last week.

The development will create traffic chaos in Longfield Avenue and surrounding roads, most of which have a bus service. Many of the flats over-look the main rail line to the west and will block out whatever sun the residents of Gordon Road may get at present in their gardens.

There is no community section allowed for the occupants of these cramped flats, there is no cinema in Ealing or a concert hall/theatre that could have been considered for regular use.

Flats are being built on every site possible in the borough and retail shops are closing weekly, which does not bode well for yet more of the same.

The site needs to be developed; however the feeling is that we were ridden over by St George and the planning committee in undue haste. The council is to receive £30m for the land and I would not like to think, as a supporter of the Tories, that this was a prime consideration.

Many areas of protest are available, other than mine above, from the Save Ealing Centre website.

Shortly developers Glenkerrin are expecting to have their plans considered on the Arcadia site. This will include a 26-storey edifice opposite Ealing Broadway station. These plans are a rehash of previous plans and are essentially more of the same - several hundred flats and retail.

How will the already overcrowded Ealing streets and station cope?

ANTHONY RODEN

Ealing