It's been a tough old year, and the omens for the 2009 aren't exactly bright.

However, we must look ahead with vigour and optimism, and hope the economic misery facing many begins to ease.

Hello. It's good to be back on our new-look website. I hope you like it.

Anyway, how are you all - sorry about the absence.

While I've been away, the biggest issue concerning you are various proposals submitted for the development of Ealing town centre.

I'm sure you're all aware that the Dicken's Yard development was approved on Guy Fawke's night .

Councillors approved the plans for the shops and flats much to your disgust, according to the letters I've received. Now the final approval is in the hands of London mayor Boris Johnson.

by Shujaul Azam
It's time to stop talking the economy down and do something positive.

That's why Gazette has launched a campaign to back small businesses across the borough.

Ealing boasts a variety of small and interesting shops as well as the major retail stores.

Some of the small businesses have been long established and some are still in their fledgling stage.

It's imperative that in the present gloomy economic climate, these businesses are not tipped over the edge into liquidation, bankruptcy etc.

Many say the parking and traffic restrictions are having an adverse effect on trading and there has to be a overhaul of these enforcements particularly near
local shop parades.

The town hall says there are a number of initiatives being introduced to help the business community and urge local traders to become involved.

The local chamber of commerce and business leaders in the community must now work in partnership and really understand the problems confronting them.

We'll highlight the plight and the problems facing small firms and urge local people to support local shops.

However, we also need the business community , the town hall, Transport for London to come together and devise a supportive strategy.

Are you a small business - let's us know how you are surviving the current economic downturn.

It was a night which celebrated the unsung heroes of our community and gave recognition to their amazing achievements.

A night which also demonstrated all the positives that bind our community together.

The overall winner and the star of west London was Jackie Sear, who has achieved so much on her council estate - enriching the lives of all living there - she is an example to us all.

The feedback we have received confirms last Thursday, was a fantastic and most enjoyable event.

As always there's a whole load of people to thank for their work in helping to organise it.
Particular thanks goes to the Gazette community reporter Jane Harrison and Thames Valley events co-ordinator Imelda South.

Our special guest former BBC correspondent John Sergeant, who now regularly appears on a variety of show topped off the evening with a witty speech - thanks John.

But the real stars were the finalist themselves who you can read about in Friday's Gazette. Don't miss it.

Here are the finalists and winners

YOUTH

Milton Wacha (winner)
Latiya Williams
The Red Caps

MY HERO

Peter Ive (winner)
Stephen French
Sally Cummings

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Jackie Sear (winner)
Kathy Dolan
Tracy Gleeson

TOP OF THE CLASS

Diane Gholam (winner)
Maura Blackburn
Pam Southey

BUSINESS

Loop (winner)
The Owl and the Pussycat
Debt Doc, Donald Findley

Star of West London
Jackie Sear

THERE'S no doubt about it Boris has made a blistering start to his new job as London mayor.

Just a few of the things he's done includes; banning booze on public transport as from June 1, getting rid of the Londoner, dubbed as Ken Livingstone's 'propaganda paper', moved back towards a policy of zero tolerance on crime, met the mayor of New York to forge stronger links between the two great cities - and he's is now even looking to cap the London mayorship to two terms which is probably a very good idea to stop cronyism.
Yes, the pace of change has certainly been upped in London.

On a more local basis let's hope this pace is also kept up by his deputy Mr Richard Barnes, who is the Assembly Member for Ealing and Hillingdon.
Having recently met Mr Barnes at an election hustings which I chaired, he spoke passionately about the dire facilities at Ealing Broadway station and a determination to make the changes to improve this important transport hub.
So far, the changes have been very slow - still no sign of a lift at Ealing Broadway - so let's hope Mr Barnes can speed up the process by using his new influence.
It's essential for him to keep Ealing in the spotlight if it's top thrive as a business centre.
This takes on particular urgency with the planned opening of the Westfield Shopping Centre in White City, just around the corner.
Ealing must have excellent transport and parking facilities if it's to retain it's position as a major centre in the capital.
If it's traders, shoppers, commuters are hampered by inadequate transport facilities the consequences will be unbearable.

D-Day for London is here.

Make sure you vote and have a say in who will run London, for the next four years.

Weigh up the arguments carefully before you put your mark against your preferred choices.

There's been a lot of focus on personalities but try to delve beyond that, and see if all the policies add up and are realistic.

Remember, whoever moves into city hall they'll be in charge of a huge budget and will be running one of the top capital cities in the world.

It's difficult, but also try to assess which candidate will be best for your local borough - Ealing must have its share of the London pie.Decide who'll favour and support this borough.

The most important thing is that you vote.

Also let's us know what you think of the outcome of the election result for the both the London Mayor and the Lonodn Assembly.

Remember to post your views on our website message board and we'll publish them in the Gazette next week

Good luck

Wherever you turn, you’re not too far away from the mugs of Boris Johnson or Ken Livingstone wooing us for the London Mayor poll vote on May 1.

Improved public transport, tougher anti-crime measures, green politics - you name it they’ll continue to promise it in between taking swipes at each other.

Yep, the same old yah boo politics has yet again surfaced and for us Londoners, this is a crying shame.

We are in danger of being sold short, if we don’t demand the candidates step up their act and address the issues that really matter and come up with some inspirational ideas.

We are living in one of the most forward-thinking , richest and diverse capital cities in the world and yet we are being dished up a lot of old, boring and staid politics.

So far, I’ve not seen one initiative which has had the wow factor – come on Boris, Ken, Brian (Brian who?) let’s see some of the political magic, which for example, has lit up the race for the presidential nomination in the USA.

Otherwise we are in danger of dying from the ‘Who Cares’ factor never mind the X factor – do something before we totally switch off. Please.

Yes, we know there should more trees, less violent crimes and cheaper public transport –that doesn’t require the title of London mayor. We can all say that.

What we want from our candidates is something more. Something that will propel London to the fore again.

Othewise, if it's not too late, I’ll stand – or perhaps my old friend The Monkey.

THE demise of the local post office continues to gather apace.

Inspite of the protest from the local community, the Post Office is intent on going ahead with the closures.

Now many say the Post Office protest is only attracting the OAPs, but that’s not the case. A whole swathe of the community is fighting for the facilities to remain.

For many up and down the country , the post office is a meeting point particularly in the rural areas. However, even in the well-heeled suburbs of west London many see the Post Office as an essential component in the fabric of its community.

So the announcement that eight of Ealing’s Post Offices are to be taken out is a crushing blow to many in the borough.

It’s not because of sentiment that the Gazette is backing the fight against the closures..
It’s because of the downright inconvenience it will cause to those living in just about every part of the borough.

That’s why we are asking you to fill in the coupon in the Gazette on page 2, opposing the closure so we can forward them on to the Post Office.

Hopefully, it will at least make them aware of the anger and strength of feeling against the closures.

Don’t forget to get nominating as the Ealing Gazette launches its annual local heroes campaign, Pride in Our People.

Now in its fifth year, the campaign run jointly with Thames Valley University, has already recognised some of the most deserving individuals and groups within the area.

So if you know anyone who deserves a pat on the back, just fill in the nomination form in the Gazette, the Ealing Leader on our website.

And this year to get us off the block , the campaign has received the backing of Olympic champ and west Londoner, Linford Christie.

It’s good to see the launch of the monthly column in the Gazette by Ealing Police commander Sultan Taylor.

Hopefully this will be the start of a more constructive partnership between the police and the Gazette.

Just before Christmas, the chief reporter Lucy Proctor and I, visited the new commander and his press liaison officer at the Ealing HQ

It was full and frank meeting with the commander. He highlighted his concerns about coverage of crime in the Gazette, and in turn we raised several of our concerns re: access to information etc.

There was a robust exchange of views about perception of crime, actual crime and crime prevention.

However after the frosty start some good ideas started to surface – ideas which would be of mutual benefit – the column being one..

And now hopefully we can bring some of the other ideas discussed to the fore too.