Gunnersbury Park Users Group
Notes of meeting held on 5th February 2014
1. Welcome and Introductions
1.1. Jan Anderson (JA) from Ealing Council’s Landscape Development Team welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited everyone to introduce himself or herself and briefly explain their interest in the park and why they love Gunnersbury (see list on last page for details).
2. Park Projects News and updates
2.1. HLF Projects – the two Heritage projects for the park and museum and progressing well and round 2 bids for the main funding will be submitted at the end of February for the Park and in early April for the Museum. Details of the two projects are explained on the display boards in front of the park café and in the museum. There was a presentation and consultation about both projects in November and there is a presentation on Feb11th to present the results of that consultation and an update on the projects.
2.2. The Stables – works are underway to stabilise the west stables including the roof with funding from English Heritage and Hounslow. Once this work is complete later this year the stables can be assessed for possible new use – but they will still need considerable investment before they can be brought back into use
2.3. Sports – Improvements to the sports offer at Gunnersbury (pitches, changing rooms, facilities) are ‘phase 3’ of the Gunnersbury 2026 masterplan for the park. Early discussions have started between Ealing and Hounslow councils and the major sports organisations (football, tennis, cricket) to identify what funding can be applied for and which organisations would be interested in supporting improvements to the pitches and improvements or replacement to the changing rooms and facilities. This could even include a new ‘sports hub’ building eg with sports hall, community rooms and café closer to the main car park eg on the south (disused) bowling green. If the latter the old cricket pavilion and changing rooms would be knocked down, a new use found for the old ‘Model Farm’ buildings, and the tennis courts relocated. This is all early stage at the moment and there are no sketch options available yet to show what might go where. Action - Agreed that as soon as further information becomes available we will ask them to bring it to the park user group meeting.
2.4. Pitch and putt – the pitch and putt course is currently located on an area of important historic parkland and visitors can officially only enter this area if they want to play golf. As part of the heritage park project we want to relocate the pitch and putt course and open up this area to everyone and return it to being long grass meadow around the existing trees. We know that HLF are keen for this to happen. This will also be very good for wildlife. The councils are discussing this idea with the current pitch and putt leaseholder who is keen to relocate closer to the car park eg to the north end of the playing field. He would like to design and build a course that is attractive to players with a wider range of abilities and is willing to fund that work. We will continue to explore this idea with him as part of the sports project. It was noted that the November public consultation showed that many people do not support relocating the golf course due to concerns about it being too close to footpaths and houses, it being a waste of council money and that the course is fine where it is. There was also a request that if the pitch and putt course is relocated the old location be kept dog-free. Action - Agreed to keep discussing the proposed relocation and options with park user group to identify the best way forward.
2.5. North Lodge – (the small lodge at the top of the drive by the main gate) The roof was repaired last year with funding from English Heritage. New railings and refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet are starting this month so it can be used as a volunteer base and also for staff when the museum is closed for refurbishment in the coming years.
2.6. Footpath Repairs – 1000m2 of footpath resurfacing will start in the next couple of weeks. This will target the worst paths on the stretch from the sports pavilion down to the Potomac Lake and will also include infilling of the worst potholes in other areas. It was suggested that the entrance to the disabled car park should also be included as this is very bad – Richard Gill and Dave Foreman agreed to adjust the works to include this area (note - all path works have been completed since the meeting). The heritage park project will include a large amount of resurfacing around the two mansions, the café, the Orangery and the footpaths that connect them which could start in 18months time - so none of these areas should are not being resurfaced now except for any areas with really bad potholes. Action - Dave will provide a map showing which areas will be done (attached) and to also display copies in the park.
2.7. Cycle Routes in the park – there is some external funding available to resurface footpaths providing they can be used as combined pedestrian and cycle paths. Two possible paths in Gunnersbury Park could be considered – the south boundary path running east-west between the north Circular Road and the Potomac Lake gate and the west boundary path running south-north from the Potomac Lake gate up to the Popes Lane/Lionel Road North junction gate. There are concerns about allowing and encouraging cycling in the park and the possible risk to pedestrians (two and four legged varieties) and how safe cycling could be encouraged and enforced. The November public consultation showed reasonable support for the idea. Action - Agreed to invite the Hounslow cycling officer to the next meeting to talk about the idea and provide more detailed information about current park cycle and examples of other parks where the idea has been trialled.
3. Park Maintenance and Management Plan –
David Withycombe of Land Management Services gave a short presentation about the new Park Maintenance and Management Plan, explaining that it will be used to guide the future maintenance of the park and to help it achieve Green Flag status and once again become an attractive and popular destination. The plan identifies current strengths and weaknesses and includes a range of recommendations and actions including:
· the need for on-site staff and strong leadership,
· strong volunteers and park user involvement in all park matters
· a set of clear guidelines to preserve and develop the parks heritage and wildlife
· more and better forward planning for park refurbishment, repairs and maintenance.
· improved park facilities
· develop links to local organisations and businesses
This plan is still in development but the aim is for it to be adopted by both councils. A copy of David’s presentation is attached and copies of the draft plan are available on request from Jan.
4. Park activities update – Ellie Lewis-Nunes, the Gunnersbury Heritage Project outreach officer, is working with volunteers at the community garden every Wednesday morning – everyone is welcome. As part of the heritage park project we will be developing a history timeline garden and expanding the existing beds. We also offer a wide range of learning opportunities for schools, children & young people, families and adults across the park and museum. More information on this is available from Ellie on request and activities are advertised in Hounslow and Ealing’s What’s On guides. We also want to plan events for later in the year including the Big Lunch / Chelsea Fringe in May/June and Open House in September. Ellie can also provide support to user groups with ideas for other park events – just get in touch via
5. Park Users Feedback –
5.1 Publicity and consultation – there is concern that the councils publicity for this and other recent events has been very poor with people missed off mailing lists, not enough notice about meetings and consultations that appear to have foregone conclusions (eg pitch and putt relocation). Jan apologised on behalf of the Heritage projects team – we know we aren’t getting it right yet but we are trying to improve all the time. Action – Jan, Richard and Ellie to feed this back to the project teams and both councils
5.2 Benches – there was a request for more benches or better spread of benches around the park to provide much needed rest spots for weary walkers. Richard Gill confirmed this is not planned in the short term but seats in more places will be provided as part of the heritage project. Sponsored benches could also help solve this problem and Richard is getting costs for these based on the existing ‘Gunnersbury’ style park bench that has been used in the park since it opened to the public in 1926. These benches cost @£1000 to supply and can have a dedication plaque. In the meantime please send suggestions for locations for new seats to Jan and Richard so they can start a list. Action – Richard and Carillion the grounds maintenance contractor to confirm the price and make information available on the Hounslow / Gunnersbury website ASAP.
5.3 Large Vehicles in the Park – there are concerns at the number of very large vehicles using the public car park access drive – lorries used by Greenscene and film units are so big that other vehicles cannot pass them on the drive and pedestrians have to dodge out of the way. Some lorries also have trouble turning into the drive from Popes Lane. There is a need for better control of large vehicles eg provide an alternative access route and/or parking location eg off the north circular road? Or ban on very large vehicles. A safe pedestrian route could also be provided along the drive although it is so narrow at some points to do a separate path. Action – Jan and Richard to investigate ideas and bring these for discussion at a future user group meeting.
5.4 Café – the November consultation showed that there is strong support for improving the café and/or having more catering facilities in the park. The heritage park project includes refurbishing the existing café but we are also exploring ideas for building a brand new café in this location if we can find some extra funding (it would cost about half a million pounds to build a good new café!). We are also exploring ideas for a second café and toilets to be included in the possible sports hub close to the car park and children’s playground (item 2.3)
6. Date of next meetings – agreed that we should hold quarterly meetings on a Wednesday evening at 6.30-8pm in the Terrace Room of the small Mansion at Gunnersbury Park. The dates for the 2014 meetings are:
Wednesday 4th June
Wednesday 10th September
Wednesday 10th December
Attendees
Jan Anderson – Ealing Council, Gunnersbury Park Project landscape architect team
Richard Gill – Hounslow Council, Gunnersbury Regeneration Manager
Ellie Lewis-Nunes – Ealing Council – Gunnersbury Park Project Outreach Officer
Dave Foreman - Carillion
David Withycombe – Land Management Services (consultant)
Arlene Gallagher – Gunnersbury Park Run
James Wisdom – Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum
Val Bott - Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum
Mary Ruane
Maria Sancho
David and partner
Ian Morton
David W
Moira and Martin
Geoff Matthews
Fiona Bradbury – community garden volunteer
Julian Waldron – community garden volunteer
Dermot Casey - Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum
Stewart Muir - Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum
Peter and Barbara Martin
Melody Slinn – Gunnersbury Triangle Residents Association
Helen - Friends of Gunnersbury Park and Museum
Apologies received
Cllr Yvonne Johnson
Cllr Colin Ellar
Cllr Melvin Collins
Cllr Bassam Mahfouz
Cllr Matt Harmer
Cllr Joanna Dabrowska
Guiseppina Ortu-Bonasera
Marie Rabouhans – Gunnersbury Community advisory panel
Tony Monaghan – Capel Manor College
Bill Thompson