Is Southall in a state of decay? Has anything changed since March 2002, when Ken Livingstone said "Southall now has all the problems that one would associate with inner-city stress."

Ealing's Tory Greater London Assembly member Richard Barnes response was “An unacceptably high population density has led to inner-city problems such as heavy traffic congestion, a lack of employment, filthy streets, filthy parks, decaying buildings, a high crime rate and a growing drugs problem.”

"Councillors have ignored and exploited the residents of Southall for too long and a corruption exists that has got the place by its neck."

Southall MP Piara Khabra dismissed the claims, saying: "Southall as a community is thriving under the Labour Party. I can't accept what Ken Livingstone and Richard Barnes have said."

Council leader, Cllr John Cudmore, said: "It must be a long while since Ken Livingstone has visited Southall. Southall has its problems but is a dynamic, vibrant community which should not be stereotyped in this way."

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environmental improvement, Gurcharan Singh said “Southall needs the best efforts of us all.”

“What Mr Livingstone and Mr Barnes have shown is that they are guilty of stereotyping Southall. Yes, despite all the good work of the last few years Southall still needs more resources to fight crime including drug related problems and to regenerate Southall.”

But, Pulak Rakshit of Woodlands Road, said
“Ken Livingstone and Richard Barnes were absolutely right to say that Southall is in a state of decay. The area has been going downhill fast for a number of years. To see that, all you have to do is look around. The streets are filthy, litter is left everywhere, the shops are all over the pavements and the people are always shouting at each other.”

Lots of the shops and restaurants look tired and run-down and the rising crime levels are seen every day with the forest of yellow police information boards.”

Those comments of Pulak Rakshit in 2002, are equally true today in 2007, which just shows that Ealing Council and especially the Southall Councillors have been a waste of time. A local business man on Southall Broadway has had enough and is planning to leave, just like others before him.

You don’t achieve anything by denying the evidence visible to your own eyes. First you need to recognize the problems, then you do something to improve matters. Go out there and a look yourself. I have. So have the local residents.

Today, Ealing Council’s top 3 priorities are:

• cleaner streets
• safer communities
• value for money services