The real mischief with the Warren Farm scheme was the council gifted the land to QPR when the commercial value for the length of lease (200 years) would run into the millions. Little wonder we’re told there’s no money when they are simply giving assets away.The facilities at Warren Farm were allowed to deteriorate to such an extent it simply made it not viable as a serious sports venue. A similar situation occurred with Gunnersbury Park during the time I played football there. Considering that all sports teams pay fairly substantial fees to hire pitches one wonders where that money went if it wasn’t for the upkeep of facilities. Into some mystery ‘fund’ no doubt.I fear the same ploy has been adopted over the Town Hall, again gifted to a developer on a long lease to become a boutique hotel. We’re told there’s no money to carry out the repairs required to the building, yet for years clubs and societies used the halls for myriad events, generating an income stream that was clearly diverted elsewhere. I’m told there’s no list of works required available, which seems odd.Odder still is that the council has mysteriously found £350,000 to give to the developers should the hotel not go ahead. Why wasn’t this money earmarked for the essential repairs instead and the halls kept open for the community use they were intended for?Ealing Council has spent thousands of pounds of our money pursuing these schemes in the face of concerted local opposition. With the future of the Town Hall hotel now in doubt following the recent findings of the Charity Commission, it looks like thousands more will follow.And who’s bring short-changed here? Why, the people of Ealing.
Simon Hayes ● 1817d