Forum Topic

Warren Farm to QPR

This is disgraceful aquisition of public, green, open space, to get this gift, this favourable deal, I can only assume that Julien Bell, Leader of Ealing Council, is a ardent QPR supporter. A 200 year lease? A peppercorn rent? and yet the local MP (Labour of course) is not protesting but nor are any Ealing Councillors, Conservative or Labour. In the future Ealing will need this land for all sorts of things, hence the 200 year lease. What a pity that Ealing Council do not value it's wild-life, this would make a great nature reserve, perhaps a 200 year lease to the National Trust or Woodland Trust might be considered? Still if Queens Park Rangers come to Hanwell/Southall we shall certainly see some wild-life then.

Roy Baker ● 3194d7 Comments

Just got back from Osterley walking the dog.Amazing that so many trees have been felled, hedges ripped out and habitat destroyed in there for what I'm told will be cycle paths. Where's the local outrage?Drove past White Lodge Sports ground. The dense tree'd copses that used to surround the perimeter here totally gone due to a swanky new development planned there.Didn't see a SWL protest banner anywhere!Rumour has it the chair of SWF is a Bee's fan. Perish the thought this would have any bearing on his viewpoint??I'm on record and 100% mean it when I say if this was being done for Bentford I'd be all for it still.I would however draw the line at Chelscum ;-)

Colin Goodman ● 3192d

100% agree with Peter and Colin, summed up perfectly,

Declan Devine ● 3192d

Interesting points Colin. In the time of austerity this does look good in that it will be something that can be used by the community as well. QPR have a big community program so some of the coaches and other people will work in our area. That is a good thing. Tomorrow supporters and members of their Down Syndrome teams are walking to Loftus Road to raise money for the Trust. I am a QPR supporter but also a resident of Hanwell. But wherever QPR go the local area will benefit because QPR know that the community is essential to their survival and future.

Peter Chadburn ● 3193d

Do you know much about it or are you simply eating up the waffle SWF are trotting out?Lets ignore the land being leased, refurbished, maintained and large portions retained for public use by the mighty Queens Park Rangers Football Club (God bless her and all who sail in her). Instead lets look at it pragmatically.Have you been to Warren Farm and used the "facilities" there anytime in the last 15 years?It's a $h1thole. Its the worst sporting arena I have ever had the misfortune to play at, spectate at or happen past. Even before this age of austerity Ealing Council had zero appetite for upkeep, this is in no way going to improve now or in the next X amount of years.Nature reserve? Foxes in urban settings are a nuisance, there's no rare flowers or fauna, Ealing doesn't have a herd of munjacks, if you went badger watching here best bring a VERY soft cushion and as for rare lesser spotted great crested whatsitthingamegig newts they've yet to be planted by SWF.Dog walking? Why would you make an effort to walk your pooch there unless you lived 10 minutes away? (See above facility reasons). If you live that close then may I suggest the canal, Osterley Park, Norwood Green etc -- all much better equipped for dog walks, safer and same distance."Public" Space - it may have escaped your attention that the plans include retention of "free to use" public space. Green stuff you're after, ie grass? Well I kid you not, the scheme allows for an abundance of this.So what's the alternative? That can only be to let the place completely crumble and become wasteland. Who would use such a place? I can think of a few sections of society quite easily -- lovely spots to leave their fly tipping for you and me to pay to clean up.Then of course maybe people would be happier for other community use - you know like a housing estate, a TESCO etc.If I'm honest the place should be utilised by Bentford, they are the most local but they have no appetite choosing instead to do a really nice stadium (lucky swines). Taking off my blue and white hoops I can safely say I dont care who uses but someone needs to match the plan put up be QPR and fund it coz LBE aint.Side note - I'm not sure it'll happen anyway. The current incumbents at QPR dont seem to have the appetite any more so maybe SWF will get their wish. Just be careful for what you wish for I say.Much love. Goodnight.

Colin Goodman ● 3194d

In one way the council's have had so much of their budget squeezed that they appear to no longer have the chance to invest in the community facilities. However at times money appears to come from nowhere for things that help politically. At least some modern facilities will get built and at least QPR have a good reputation for community work. So local young people may benefit from that. It could be a positive thing to have facilities that can be used widely. Years ago i played football at Gunnersbury and the facilities then were a bit scruffy then but walking past now is quite sad to see.

Peter Chadburn ● 3194d

I can't help feeling that there is something dodgy about this deal.  The idea of simply handing over control of a large area of Metropolitan Open Land for 200 years and getting in return some updated sports facilities on part of the land which will only be open to the public on QPR's say-so seems almost unbelievable.IMO either:a) QPR should be made to pay an extremely large sum of moneyor b) the land should be kept in reserve for future council housing and/or a new school which will, no doubt, be required soon if Ealing goes on expanding in populationThis land once housed 'the best school sports fields in London'.  It would be very valuable if it were put on the open market.Why is our council just giving it away?

Thelma Leach ● 3194d

Hi Roy,I couldn't agree more. Ealing Council's decision to give away these 61 acres of open land - our land - is appalling. QPR, if they're not stopped, will level the site with thousands of tonnes of landfill, for which they will earn an additional £4 million. I run up there a couple of times a week and it's a beautiful green space that's been given to big business. In return they're going to fence if off, denying access for dogwalkers, families, birdwatchers or people just trying to cross the site. Ealing Council, and Julian Bell in particular should be utterly ashamed of themselves. They won't be though - this is a council that is on some frantic sell-off of public property - the town hall, the library... and they won't fight the environmentally disastrous Third Runway plans because they simple want a £150 million hand out. They're carpetbaggers. I genuinely have no idea how these people sleep at night. Keep posting on these issue Roy... Mark

mark eccleston ● 3194d