Once again, the Southall Community Centre on Merrick Road, known as "The Centre" by Bukhara, has become a subject of concern among local residents.

Mr Malhi of Diamond Property London Ltd is applying to Ealing Council for planning permission affecting the Southall Community Centre which is considered a major development.

The proposal is for a mixed-use development, ranging from 6 to 22 stories high, with community/commercial spaces on the ground and mezzanine floors, and 215 flats above.

This IMPORTANT notice was put on a lamp post outside the building on Wednesday 5 July 2023 and residents MUST respond by Wednesday 26 July 2023 (the CONSULTATION end date), to have their voice heard.

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That is a maximum notice period of 3 weeks for residents who have a UNUSUAL daily habit of reading notices on lamp post? Others channels of communications, like smoke signals, are rarer in Southall.

One resident expressed frustration over the lack of adequate notice and consideration for the community's opinions, viewing it as a form of discrimination against the people of Southall.

He believes the lovely building should be preserved and possibly listed. Instead of converting it into flats, he suggests a better use would be to reinstate it as a community centre with sports and health facilities, to prevent greedy individuals from taking advantage.

There are allegations of corruption and misuse of the building in the past. Mr. Malhi acquired the premises in 2008 and failed to fulfil the condition of providing community usage. Prior to its sale, the Southall Community Centre served as a vital hub for various minority communities, but after the sale, they were all evicted, leading to a loss of communal activities and gatherings.

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This resident and others are calling for transparency and demand to see the conditions of the original sale and whether any covenants are in place to protect the community's interests. They believe the council may be prioritizing financial gain over community welfare, and they plan to use Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and register the building as a community asset to challenge this situation.

The building's sale history reveals that it was sold to a charity named Go (Help) Asia Trust in 2008. However, some suspect that the charity might be a front for a commercial entity, and there are doubts about whether the charity's objectives align with the construction of mixed-use tower blocks in the area.

Parking and infrastructure issues related to the rapid development of tower blocks in Southall are also a concern for the community, and they feel the local authority should take these matters into account.

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The issues surrounding Southall Community Centre are still relevant and require immediate attention. The community aims to gather and strategize at a suitable location to fight for the preservation and use of the building in the best interests of the community.

In 2008, Ealing Council sold the site to Go Asia Trust for nearly £2 million, sparking widespread anger from the residents.

Despite assurances from the new owners that the venue would continue to be accessible to the public and undergo renovation work, these promises were never fulfilled.

The development proposal is for a mixed-use development, ranging from 6 to 22 stories high, with community/commercial spaces on the ground and mezzanine floors, and 215 flats above.

To learn more about the application, access the plans, and provide your feedback before the consultation end date of 26 July 2023, visit: https://pam.ealing.gov.uk/online-applications/PLAN/223246FUL

In case of a server error, please retry immediately. A dodgy council website?

Be aware that all comments, including your name and address (excluding contact details), will be made public. Your representations cannot be treated as confidential.