On 7 May 2026, residents in the Walpole ward will vote to choose who represents them at Ealing Council.
EALING.NEWS has asked all candidates standing to become a councillor, 7 questions about who they are, what they hope to deliver and why they want residents to vote for them.
Here’s what Richard Tall, standing for Ealing Community Independents in Walpole, has to say:
Tell us a bit about yourself, your priorities for the ward and why you want to be councillor for Walpole?
I was brought up in Bournville, Birmingham and my schools gave me a strong Quaker belief and tradition and the notion of equality which has always stayed with me: care about your friends, your family, your community and they in turn will care for you.
I think our current councillors have become too disassociated from the residents. This has been clear form the bad communication and decisions that have been made in our ward over the last few years. We need to put our community voice back into Council, which is why we need Ealing Community Independents and why I am standing. The priorities for my ward are, firstly, to sort out the terrible pavements that mean many people, particularly the elderly and disabled, worry about even going out – how can that be, in one of the richest boroughs of the richest cities of the world?! Secondly, to put right the terrible decisions Labour have made, such as the Lammas Park craters and using contractors who were about to go bust as developers in West Ealing.
And thirdly, we desperately need to revitalise West Ealing – it should be a major vibrant hub on the Elizabeth Line, but Ealing Labour have done very little to enhance and attract visitors to the area, which would kick start our businesses and rejuvenate the high street.
What motivates you?
Fairness and injustice motivates me. We’re all born equal, we need to ensure that parity prevails and that we are fair not just to each other but to ourselves. We can pretend that we’re not bothered about local, national, international issues but it all adds to the growing weight that each of us carry.
What is your own personal connection to either Walpole or any other part of the borough?
I first came to Ealing in 1999 and was a regular visitor here until I began to settle here in 2007. I moved here full time in 2016. It’s a place of friends, family, beauty and belief. It is so very similar to Bournville, where I was raised, but I grow increasingly concerned that our green and pleasant borough is soon to be lost under this Labour council. We have to stop them from wreaking any more destruction of our wonderful community.
What do you consider to be your 3 top political, work or personal achievements and what impact have they had?
I was a part of Sister Supporter, which campaigned against harassment of women attending the pregnancy advisory clinics in Mattock Lane. I joined it after I saw a young woman being absolutely admonished by a man outside the clinic. I paused, and then continued on my way and did nothing. I couldn’t think of anything else for days. So, I found out about Sister Supporter, joined and became the person who set up the method for recording the evidence at the clinic. It was really hard for all of us to be involved with this, watching the regular abuse by the ‘pavement counsellors’ of women attending the clinic – some of whom desperately wanted a child only to find out it wasn’t viable and then to be told that what they were doing was wrong. In the end, we successfully achieved a buffer zone in Ealing and then it became national.
What do you consider to be the top 3 challenges Walpole faces and how will you as a councillor address them?
The top three challenges of Walpole are to make sure we have enough recreation facilities all year round to aid mindfulness (and not to be agitated by them!), tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and stressing to people the norms and values of community we should all share; making the area feel safe and welcoming for everyone, and putting a real effort to make sure our streets are clean and tidy all year round (not just before an election).
What do you love about Walpole and the borough of Ealing?
Walpole contains so many brilliant, distinct and unique attractions – from Questors Theatre to the wonderful parks, churches, Ealing Studios (and all the history it brings with it) to the everyday useful needs of allotments, beautiful architecture and local individual shops. I love Northfield Avenue. I love the shops, the cafes and the restaurants and I hope we can make it continue to grow and not disappear. Local places to meet like this are becoming increasingly rare and we have to support and encourage people to start businesses. It’s good for people’s mental health, it’s good for society, it’s our future.
How accessible will you be to Walpole residents and how can they get in contact with you now and if elected how will you ensure you are accessible to them in the future?
I think in the day of electronic communications, a councillor should be responsive every day, at least every workday. It’s not difficult to respond to someone and appreciate them getting in touch with you. Most people don’t get in touch with you on a whim. The most important thing that a local councillor can do is to listen. People want to be heard and it’s your job as a councillor to represent their voice and to act on their behalf when you can. It should be considered an honour to do this, not an inconvenience. Anyone can get in touch with me via richard@ealingindependents.org, or through our social media pages, or Whatsapp 07974 156434.
Click here for all Walpole candidates standing.
Full coverage of the 2026 Ealing Council local elections and candidates standing can be found here.
