Newspaper
Park future unclear
The future financial health of London’s biggest new park in a century has been thrown into doubt by Ealing Council.
Northala Fields is an 18.5ha site on the edge of the A40 Western Avenue. The recently completed first phase of the project saw the basic construction of the park and was completely self-funded due to the paid use of green waste onsite. It also generated a surplus that was to be used as seed funding for the second phase, which was to include a state-of-the-art visitor centre, as well as a fund for the future maintenance of the park.
The project in its original form had the full support of the Labour administration at Ealing Council. However, following the local government elections in May this year, the Tories gained control and at a meeting last month they voted to scrap the second phase of the project.
In a statement, council leader Jason Stacey attempted to justify the unpopular decision. He said: “It will open the council up to significant financial liability that it could not meet without making significant cuts elsewhere.”
The decision coincides with the publication of a report from CABE Space entitled ‘Paying for Parks’, which claims the widespread renewal of urban green space could be threatened by a lack of consideration with regards to long-term sustainability. In particular, the report stated: “Whether a new space is being created or an existing space improved, it is important to set up dedicated funding and management arrangements from the outset.”
Speaking to Vista, Shadow Environment Secretary Peter Ainsworth said: “We should preserve, protect and foster these vital green spaces in our urban landscape.”
He added: “Ultimately, it is up to Ealing Council to decide what its funding priorities are. Needless to say, this case seems to illustrate the need for a variety of funding streams, as advocated by CABE.”
Peter Fink is director of Art2Architecture, which drew up the plans for Northala Fields alongside EDAW. He made a statement prior to the crucial Council meeting on 10 October, when the decision was taken. In it, he accused Cllr Stacey of intentionally misrepresenting the case for phase two.
He said: “To interpret the Action Plan as a business case for phase two, or to use the estimates of costs and potential funding availability provided in the Action Plan as a basis for determining the feasibility of the project, is utterly inappropriate and is, therefore, an entirely inaccurate use of the information provided in the Action Plan.
“At no point in the Action Plan is it suggested that the Council should commit to undertaking work that does not have secure funding.”
Reverend David Wise has been the chair of Northolt and Greenford Countryside Park Society for ten years and was a member of the council’s own Northala Fields Steering group. He also spoke at the meeting and presented a 700-signature petition, demonstrating the level of public support.
He told Vista: “They have no choice but to see the completion of phase one because construction is underway, but they have no vision for the park and no passion for it.” In his official statement, Cllr Stacey provided a breakdown of how the £690,000 generated by phase one would be used in the park for elements such as public toilets and a fishing bailiff office, rather than as seed funding for phase two. However, no sum was allocated for upkeep of the park, nor were any sources of long term maintenance funding suggested. When approached for further comment on the subject, a Council spokesman said that Cllr Stacey’s statement represented all that the authority wished to say on the matter.
Fink is sanguine. He told Vista: “It’s still a remarkable achievement to build a massive new landscape out of nothing and at no cost to anyone. But the problem about it is that, unless you have a sustainable strategy for the end-user engagement with the space, it will just become a slightly dysfunctional green space, as all the others are in London.” Discuss this article
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