Is ONE ice cream vendor more POWERFUL than Ealing Council (Parking + Licensing + Councillors)? This is not a joke but a serious question being asked by residents.

They are asking this question to the parking services, licensing services and all the Councillors at Ealing council.

It is also being brought to attention of the local Ealing Southall MP Virendra Sharma, GLA member Onkar Sahota, few other local MPs, the Mayor of London and the Chief Executive of Ealing council

The residents believe that these individuals can shed some light on what is acceptable and what is NOT acceptable behaviour.

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They may also be able to offer some advice to Ealing council on how to deal with the matter.

The request read as follows:

Is ONE ice cream vendor more POWERFUL than Ealing Council (Parking + Licensing + Councillors)?

Ice cream vendor trading from a SINGLE spot EVERY DAY.
Illegal parked on the pavement, causing obstruction, illegal trading, ASB and constant pollution.
Ealing Council in UNABLE or UNWILLING to stop him.

It’s hard to believe but it is TRUE.

We are taking enforcement action.
No, we can only issue one PCN in any 24 hour period.
Van is causing obstruction – sorry, we cannot clamp because that would cause an obstruction.
We have no clamping section/division or clamps.
We are not allowed to clamp.

Councils can choose “not to clamp” but is that in EVERY case?
When a PCN fine is NOT a sufficient DETERRENT to discourage PERSISTENT offenders, the Council can under powers of the Road Traffic Act 1991 either wheel clamp or remove a vehicle.
Our hands are tied. We cannot legally do anything to stop this.
Who has tied your hands? Yourself or the law?

Tell us, what do you expect us to do?

Qualified people in highly paid or well-paid jobs not knowing what to do in their own field? Surely you should be asking this of your colleagues or others in your sector?
How about PROPER enforcement under the law, without tying your hands behind your back. That does not require EXTRA intelligence. A normal person should be able to do that.

Why do people stop reporting ANY incidents?
Because NOTHING gets done.
Yippee, no reports so everything must be fine.
No, REPEAT reporting is a waste of time.

Calm down sir, it’s only been 2 years or 5 years.
We will sort it out ONE day.
That day might NEVER arrive at this pace.

It’s just illegal pavement parking – nothing serious.

Is the obstruction, illegal trading, ASB and constant pollution just irrelevant or unimportant?
What about the 2 or 3 cars parked just behind him, following his example.
What about the 2 or 3 other ice vans following his example.
This leads to a dozen illegally parked vehicles on the pavement in a very small area during the day.

What happens at night?

Exactly the same but also human dogs barking, cars revving, loud music/noise, drink, drugs and prostitution.
Not safe to walk there, so a "no go" area for residents.
Nearby residents can’t get a decent sleep at night, even with their windows shut in this HOT weather.

What is the common denominator?

Illegally parked cars on pavement.
Proper enforcement action would HALF the problem and nearby residents would be happier.

Communcation?

Are Parking services permitted to speak to the Licensing Department?
Are the Licensing Department capable of revoking a license?
How many weeks/months/years of DAILY illegal trading will it take for them to take action?

Are Councillors permitted to speak to the Licensing Department?
How many weeks/months/years of DAILY illegal trading will it take for them to ACT?

If a Councillor or council officer has no intention or idea on how to provide a DECENT service, then they should MOVE on and let someone else do a BETTER job.

Oh, we are doing ……
It may seem like that from the ivory tower
But it’s all BULLSHIT when you look on the ground.

We are NOT corrupt
We are NOT incompetent
We are NOT USELESS
We just deliver NOTHING - You should be happy with that.
What?

Are you committed to keeping our pavements free of obstruction?
Does that include “removing obstructions” which may affect the use and safety of pavements?

Climate Emergency

You declared a climate emergency in 2019 and lecture us about how much pollution an idling engine can produce in a minute.
Yet you do NOTHING about the ice-cream van(s) idling ALL day every day on Southall Broadway
Is that playing “your part in improving local air quality and fighting the climate crisis”?

History

This particular ice cream vendor has been doing this sort of thing since 2016. It took 3 years before the Council got its act right in 2019. Ice cream vendors could be seen running from the traffic wardens.

Then we had covid in 2020 and 2021.

In 2022.the ice cream vendors don’t give a crap about the wardens or any decent Councillor.

What has changed since 2019?

Do you have an ambitious 4 year Plan?
The residents would LIKE a bog standard plan that DELIVERS.

Summary

These are the views of the SILENT long-suffering residents around Southall Broadway.

• If we don’t say it now, NOTHING will get DONE or will easily reverts back next year
• We want to see VISIBLE enforcement of illegal PAVEMENT parking at ALL times
• That means NOT seeing a DOZEN such cars every time you venture onto Southall Broadway
• and NOT ALWAYS thinking where are the officers. hiding?

Responsible councils say "we have the authority to enforce 24 hours per day if and when required."

Residents of Southall are sick and tired of being IGNORED.

Stop treating Southall like a "dormitory town".