During WW2 the main ARP Control Centre for the Borough of Ealing was located in the Borough electricity building in Longfield Avenue (opposite the Town Hall). Two Sub Controls were also built, reporting to the main control at Ealing; they were the North Sub Control in the Perivale Council Depot in Ruislip Road East and the West Sub Control built within the grounds of the Belvue Park ARP Depot in Rowdell Road, Northolt.
A South Control was also planned but never built. This would have been within the grounds of the Claypond ARP depot in Ealing Road W5.
A sub control acted as a mobilization centres for heavy and light rescue, fire brigade, ambulance etc. Incident reports would be relayed to the sub control from wardens' posts; the sub control would then allocate whatever rescue services were required. If sufficient resources weren’t available locally to deal with a major incident the sub control would then call up the main control who could draft in additional services from elsewhere in the region. At the end of each day each sub control would submit a report on all incidents to their main control.
The Main and North Controls were demolished by the 1970’s. A gas decontamination and cleansing station still survives in Clayponds Gardens W5. This now acts as a community centre for the Clayponds Estate.
A two storey brick built gas decontamination and cleansing station also survives at the Belvue site. This is now used by the Northolt Boys Club who acquired the site in 1972 as a base for the Northolt Amateur Boxing Club and as a clubhouse for Larkspur Rovers Football Club. The single storey brick built control centre also survives alongside the decontamination station and is used by the football club as a store. Both buildings are in good external condition.
Sources:
- Keith Ward
- Ealing borough ARP committee minutes - Ealing local studies library
- Middlesex county ARP maps and plans - London Metropolitan archive
