The fight is on to save the Gunnersbury Park estate from crumbling under the weight of long-term debt and rising maintenance costs.

Millions of pounds are needed to bring the park's listed buildings back to life after years of neglect and underfunding.

The "steady erosion of service standards and maintenance in the park" has meant that locals are "losing out" on leisure and cultural activities, a Hounslow Council report found.

Nine historic structures on the estate, most of which date back to the 18th century, are already listed on English Heritage's Register of Buildings at Risk, with two being "in immediate danger of collapse".

Timothy Jones, senior buildings advisor for English Heritage, said: "We have been very concerned at the condition of the buildings in Gunnersbury Park and we are working very hard to try and find a solution."

Restoring the two mansions could cost £10million, another £2.5million would be needed to bring the west and east stable blocks back into use, and a £250,000 cash injection is required urgently for basic safety repairs, the report said.

But neither Hounslow nor Ealing councils, which jointly fund the running of the estate, are able to provide the necessary funds.

Last week, a report by the Gunnersbury Park Joint Committee said the estate's proposed 2007/08 budget is "perilously close to inadequacy" and, if passed, "will do no more than attempt to keep the park and its facilities surviving at a low level of (acceptable) activity".

A whole new approach is clearly needed, the latest report said.

The 40-year-old Gunnersbury Park Joint Committee will be disbanded, Hounslow's executive members decided on Tuesday, with a new "streamlined" Gunnersbury Park Regeneration Board taking control.

Members of the board, led by a dedicated development manager, will be tasked with creating a full conservation plan.

They will seek Heritage Lottery funding and could work with the private sector to kickstart the site's regeneration.

Councillor Peter Thompson, leader of Hounslow Council, said: "Managing Gunnersbury Park through a large joint committee has not worked well, as neither council has really given this wonderful asset the priority it deserves. Year-on-year cuts to its budget have left us in the situation where we are only just able to keep the park open."

He added that saving Gunnersbury "may not be easy but we are confident that with the right tools and approaches we will make progress".