Unique Opportunity To Shape Future of Gunnersbury Park

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Regeneration drive to prevent further decline to landscape and buildings

Local residents are being offered a unique opportunity to shape the future of Gunnersbury Park as part of an ambitious regeneration drive.

The park is jointly managed by Hounslow and Ealing councils but has seen a deterioration in recent years due to chronic underfunding. It has now been earmarked for improvement with a series of developments taking place.

Reducing budgets and limited capital investment had contributed to the steady decline in both the physical structure of its landscape and buildings, demanding a new approach to safeguard its future. In March last year, a new board to manage Gunnersbury Park was formed ending an historic joint-committee arrangement between the two councils.

The board, which is made up of representatives from both councils, is developing an action plan for the park, including identifying new investment opportunities.

They want the public, including local residents, park users and interest groups have an opportunity to influence decision-making, so a stakeholder group is being set up and people are being asked to get involved.

Richard Gill has been appointed as development and regeneration manager for Gunnersbury Park. He has previously worked on a similar project at Chiswick House and Gardens, which is being transformed by a multi-million pound National Lottery grant.

Urging people to get involved in the stakeholder group, Richard said: "These are exciting times for Gunnersbury Park. There is a real desire to find new investment and transform this much-loved park for present and future generations to enjoy. While the board will be the main decision-maker, we are determined that people who have a genuine interest in improving the park should have an opportunity to influence that decision-making, and I hope people come forward to register their interest."

Gunnersbury Park has a glorious history. Previous owners include an MP, a princess and an eminent banking family. Between them, they entertained an array of politicians, statesmen, royalty and diplomats in the finest buildings and gardens that they could afford. The resulting legacy is a landscape and buildings listed for historic importance and open as a public park.

People, who would make ideal stakeholders, might include anyone with a professional or voluntary background in parks, wildlife, leisure and heritage, but equally, local people who regularly use the park, or are concerned about other issues, are welcome to register their interest by calling 020 8992 1612.

July 29, 2008