STIG calls for Hounslow Council to commit to its open spaces

Last Thursday Cllr Andrew Dakers proposed and Cllr Jon Hardy seconded the following motion at the Brentford Local Area Committee which was passed with cross party support.

Isleworth and Brentford Area Committee welcomes the recent work of the both Councils and the Development Manager to progress the urgent restoration of Gunnersbury Park, the local history museum and mansions.  We support local residents' calls for a more extensive search for alternative sources of funding (e.g. alternative land sale for capital receipts, prudential borrowing or new revenue streams within park) for the building restoration and new museum/ collection store at Gunnersbury Park as an alternative to building on parts of the park. 

We call on Ealing and Hounslow councils to fully explore these alternative funding sources before a final decision is made.  This must be undertaken with urgency so as not to delay progress in developing a business plan and submitting funding applications to national bodies which has, thus far, been too slow.

Andrew added, "Whilst the Conservative's u-turn on Gunnersbury Park is welcomed, the botched consultation reflects a lack of understanding of local peoples' concerns and aspirations.    "As our motion highlights the real urgency is now finding other sources of funding for the restoration to proceed before we lose the stables or there is more damage to the local history collection.  We do not want the Conservatives to u-turn, yet again, or drag their feet on Gunnersbury claiming they can't find the money elsewhere."

At another packed meeting the SAVE TREES IN GUNNERSBURY (STIG) campaign celebrated the decision by Ealing Council to support its open spaces and not sell parkland.
 
"This is a great step forward," said Giuseppina Ortu, a local resident, "but we need to keep the pressure on councils not to go back on their commitments."
 
Hounslow Council (who jointly own the park with Ealing) have not yet made any such commitment, and STIG wants to help Ealing keep their resolve when under pressure from other vested interests.
 
STIG has leafleted across both boroughs asking people to write to their councillors and MPs. If necessary, it intends to make its campaign national.
 
"Let's not think the battle is won yet!" said Lucy Collins, mother of 2. "After the local elections next year, new councillors must know about the public support to keep our parks alive for future generations."

October 27, 2009