Council Survey Shows Support for Golf Course Closure
Over 60% back plan to shut Perivale Park Golf Club
A rally held last year in support of the golf club in central Ealing
March 13, 2024
Ealing Council has published the results of a survey it held last year on plans to create a Regional Park in the borough which it says would require the closure of the Perivale Park Golf Course.
Supporters of the club are claiming the survey was framed in a misleading way which meant it was more likely that respondents would back the closure of the course.
Over 6,000 people plus local groups completed the survey between October and December last year with 62.5% supporting the golf club closure and 76% backing the Regional Park plan. Within the wider scheme, the council has committed to creating 10 new parks in the borough by 2026.
The survey report was published on 7 March and the final decision will be taken on 15 March. Architects Priors + Partners have already been appointed to help prepare a masterplan for the new regional park.
The survey asked 16 questions about aspects of the plan for a new Regional Park and gave space for those completing it to add additional comments.
2 out of 3 respondents to the survey selected hiking and walking as their top physical activity to do in the new regional park followed by water activities (42%) and cycling and scooting (34%).
A café or restaurant was one of the top facilities for the park among two-thirds of the respondents, followed by sports and leisure facilities (52%) and a community or visitor’s centre (40%) in the next two spots. Public toilets were the most common facility mentioned in the open-ended question.
There was also strong backing for a new outdoor cultural venue in the park, with more than 71% supporting this idea with suggestions including open air theatre and cinemas as well as music festivals.
On the closure of the golf course there was overwhelming support from younger respondents (aged 25-44) with 77% but only 52% of those over 55 backed closure.
84% of respondents said that they didn’t play golf or didn’t play at Perivale Park Golf Course. Only 10% of younger respondents (aged 25-44) played golf at Perivale Park, compared to 22% of older respondents (aged 55 and over), and only 8% of female respondents played golf there compared to 21% of male respondents.
There was not a majority in support of the closure from respondents from Perivale with only 47% backing the proposals but a far larger number of people responded to the area from areas such as Northfield ward and Hanwell where there was strong support for the council’s plan.
The committee of the nine-hole golf course dispute the results of the survey saying that it was structured to present the closure as a necessary step to enable the creation of a regional park.
Club members met with senior councillors earlier this month to state their case arguing that the club provided affordable and accessible sport to a poorly served section of the population. They have also collected a petition against closure and demonstrated outside the Town Hall.
A letter from the club’s committee to Labour councillors and senior council officers says that the decision is only being made to meet a manifesto pledge to create ten parks and was not necessary for the formation of a Regional Park.
It continues, “The Labour council, having spent thousands of ratepayers money publicising the much needed ‘New Regional Park’, have decided to close this 100 year old local community asset. Perivale ‘Park’ golf course is already a public park. People walking their dogs across the course constantly remind golfers of that fact. There is no need whatsoever to close the course. Unfortunately, Ealing Labour councillors seem to see golf as an elitest middle-class sport for voters who do not deserve any consideration.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action, said, “We made a commitment to create 10 new parks in the borough and plant 50,000 more trees. The proposal for a new park at Perivale could see us delivering the second of our 10 parks and would eventually form part of the regional park.
“We will work with local people on the final layout of the proposed new park but we have already put aside money to plant wild flower meadows and install benches, paths and new signage. As part of the regional park, we could see areas of forest, wetlands and new habitats for wildlife coming to the new park at Perivale in the future. We also want to explore the potential to continue to provide a cafe as part of the overall offer of a regional park.”
Councillor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for thriving communities, said, “A new regional park would have sports, art, music, dance and culture at its heart and we remain committed to providing excellent sports and leisure facilities in Ealing.
“It’s wonderful to see that a huge 73% of you support a new cultural venue in the new park, we have a very real opportunity to offer world class music, performance and arts to our residents.”
Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrat said, “The Liberal Democrats find it very disappointing that Labour run Ealing made a decision before listening to people. Liberal Democrats and residents want to see the golf club retained as part of a regional park. Many people from a range of diverse backgrounds use the golf club and the Council should support the club not kill off the golf club.”
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