Forum Topic

Gunnersbury Park - Post Apocalyptic Hinterland

Having just been for a stroll around Gunnersbury Park I see Ealing’s Labour council have turned 50% of the green space into an industrial wasteland. If you don’t believe me go and see yourself. What a total disgrace.Even as a Labour member I’m going to find it hard to keep down the vomit voting for these vultures. Hopefully there will be other options as the incompetents in the mainstream parties have failed the borough and the country. I used to have faith that Corbyn would stand up to these vulture capitalists, but he can’t control the ones in his own party and TIG, let alone the Tories.What a sad indictment of politics and politicians in this country.

James Moore ● 2490d6 Comments

50% is a bit of an exaggeration… The NW corner of the park is a mess – the new sports ‘hub’ is enormous (I had fondly imagined something along the lines of a cricket pavilion…) and they are making a great mess of creating all weather pitches and other works (possibly bringing in utilities?) but the remaining two thirds of the park is gorgeous. The vista down from the terrace, now they have removed the old pitch and putt, is green right down to the southern boundary; the area round the new pond (with fountain) next to the restored Orangery will be delightful when they sort out the fencing round the water, the bathhouse looks splendid and the main Gunnersbury House very grand. The café is good and the round pond is full of water – and ducks. The eastern end has been opened up with rose beds, fruit trees and a community veggie patch near the ‘ruins’, an area which was mostly inaccessible before. Everywhere is lush and green and a pleasure to walk around. By all means hurry past the building works and avoid the top NW corner, but don’t dismiss the rest of this lovely place!

Lorna Dodd ● 2475d

Well put, Tony. The new museum is terrific -- a huge upgrade from before.

Susan Kelly ● 2488d

In 2018 the not-for-profit Gunnersbury Community Interest Company (CIC) took over the day-to-day operation of the park and museum on behalf of Ealing and Hounslow Councils. It is responsible 'for overseeing the park’s educational, leisure and cultural opportunities' which includes the sports hub and other developments, as well as bringing in more income from the use of the park to help fund its activities. There's been some dissatisfaction about recent events held in the park, and some unease expressed by local councillors that they aren't represented on the CIC's board and that its chain of accountability to the public is somewhat convoluted.

Peter Evans ● 2488d

They are building new facilities, what do you expect? Did you 'stroll' round the new café or the refurbed summer house and museum? A lot of time and money is going into Gunnersbury and it will be a fantastic facility but it does have to wash its face financially. Comments like yours are par for the course for the internet but just smack of party politics rather than anything to do with the park. Shameful.

Tony Mansell ● 2489d

Which bit are you talking about? Is it the north-west corner where the new sports hub is still under construction?

Susan Kelly ● 2489d

I think the park is still jointly managed by Ealing and Hounslow Council.Gunnersbury Park is a park in the London Borough of Hounslow between Acton, Brentford, Chiswick and Ealing, West London, England. Purchased for the nation from the Rothschild family, it was opened to the public by Neville Chamberlain, then Minister of Health, on 21 May 1926. The park is currently jointly managed by Hounslow and Ealing borough councils. A major restoration project funded by the National Lottery was completed in 2018.

Tony Crumpton ● 2489d