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Uncertain future for Gunnersbury Park
6:50am Wednesday 28th October 2009
The future of Gunnersbury Park is hanging in the balance after Hounslow Council failed to confirm if it will block plans for part of the green space to be sold for housing.
Ealing Council, which jointly manages the park with Hounslow, last week passed a motion which could stop part of the popular park being sold to developers to help fund its future regeneration.
The motion stated: “This council is committed to improving Gunnersbury Park but rules out selling parts of the park to developers to help pay for it.”
However Hounslow Council has refused to confirm if it will do the same - leaving question marks over the park’s future.
A spokesman for the council confirmed that any decision over its future would be made only after the two councils have met.
Last week campaigners celebrated news of Ealing Council’s declaration. After the decision Save Trees in Gunnersbury (Stig) gathered at the park to highlight their cause last Saturday.
Campaigners fear that if the stretch of land is sold to developers, 400 trees will be felled to make way for housing.
Stig member Giuseppina Ortu said: “This is a great step forward but we need to keep the pressure on.”
Council consultants say that a 5.6 acre stretch of the park in Lionel Road North should be sold to property developers to help the two councils meet the estimated £39m needed to regenerate the park and its buildings.
London Assembly Green Party Member Darren Johnson added his voice to the opposition to the plans.
“Whilst I agree that Gunnersbury Park needs some improvements, it is totally inappropriate that these improvements should be financed from a new housing development on this park,” he said.
“Not only is it contrary to the Mayor of London’s planning policy of protecting green spaces, but it also sets a precedent and encourages further encroachment and developments into other London parks and open spaces.
“If this proposal turns into a planning application, I will be urging the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to take a tough stand and use all his powers to resist this development.”
Councillor Becky Stewart, Hounslow’s lead member for leisure, said last week: “We understand that Ealing Council agreed a motion that affects its strategy for parks and green space; this in turn could change Ealing’s policy and strategy on options previously agreed with Hounslow to find a way of guaranteeing a future for Gunnersbury Park.
”We are looking forward to hearing full details of the Ealing’s new policy at the next meeting of the Gunnersbury Park Joint Advisory Panel.“ Coun Stewart said the results of a public consultation on the proposal would now be more important than ever in seeking ways to returning the park and its deteriorating buildings back to their former glory.
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Uncertain: The future of Gunnersbury Park is hanging in the balance after Hounslow Council failed to confirm if it will block plans for part of the green space to be sold for housing
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