No need for football pitches at Warren Farm NR - Ealing Council unveils sports strategy for the next decade
Mown sports area vs. rewilded meadow habitat
Ealing Council’s draft ‘Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy and Action Plan 2022–2031’ was discussed at the council’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday 13 July 2022.
The purpose of the strategy is to assesses the current and future need for indoor and outdoor sports facilities across Ealing. Once finalised, this strategy will be used to inform future Local Plans. Local Plans are used to help decide on planning applications and other planning related decisions. In effect, they are the local guide to what can be built where, shaping infrastructure investments and determining the future pattern of development in the borough.
Having reviewed this document we are pleased to note that the findings in the cabinet report and the supporting report from Continuum (the consultancy firm employed to carry out the strategy) are broadly in line with the points the Warren Farm Nature Reserve group have been making with regards to sports provision on Warren Farm.
The comments strongly suggest that the increased provision of football pitches should be met by new, upgraded or extended pavilions at existing sites and not relocated to Warren Farm:
‘New, upgraded or extended pavilions are required at a number of sites to accommodate existing demand and better cater for growth in women and girls’ football. These include: Actionian Sports Ground, Elthorne Waterside, Shamrock Sports Club, Southfields Recreation Ground, Spikes Bridge Park and Hanwell Town’s Reynolds Field facility provided formal football pitches continue to be maintained at these sites and not relocated to reinstated playing field sites such as Warren Farm, King George V Playing Field / Durdans Park or Norwood Hall.’
Ealing Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy and Action Plan 2022 – 2031, Working draft copy
Covid-19 lockdowns taught us the value of green spaces for our mental and physical health. Ealing hospital in the background of Warren Farm NR at dusk
As we stated in our previous blog post on 24th March 2022, we know there are already plenty of suitable sites for sports in the borough and just over the boundary in Hounslow which local residents make good use of. All of these facilities are just 3 miles or less from Warren Farm NR.
Ealing Council’s report also acknowledges the climate emergency and the need to consider Warren Farm as a Nature Reserve. This is consistent with the statement made by the council leader, Peter Mason before the election regarding the creation of a Local Nature Reserve at Warren Farm and the commitment to re-wild the ‘overwhelming majority’ of the site.
Warren Farm NR supports a multitude of wildlife, including Schedule 1 listed Barn Owls. Credit: Richard Carter
That said, we note with concern the suggestion in the report that part of Warren Farm may be considered for cricket pitches. We will need to see more detail relating to this proposal before commenting any further but we do not want to see facilities encroach on our re-wilded urban meadow which our now 12,500 petition supporters and growing want to see safeguarded in its entirety with Local Nature Reserve designation.
We understand the council’s requirement to balance different interests when considering the future of Warren Farm NR. However, Ealing Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. The UK is witnessing biodiversity loss at an astonishing rate. The government will require councils to show a Biodiversity Net Gain and we do not believe this will be possible if any of Warren Farm’s species-rich meadow habitat is used for sport or developed upon in any other way. Local Nature Reserve designation for Warren Farm NR will safeguard and significantly contribute towards Biodiversity Net Gain while also allowing lots of people of all different ages, backgrounds and abilities to partake in regular, moderate exercise at no personal financial cost.
There are less than 2% of wildflower meadows left in the UK, of which Warren Farm NR is one.
So, we welcome the recommendation in the cabinet report that ongoing discussions are to continue and we are looking forward to productive discussions with Ealing Council on this basis to develop a strategy for Warren Farm as the Local Nature Reserve it already is, in everything but official designation. And while we welcome much of what is in the Ealing Council’s sports strategy report, there are of course still big questions to be answered about how the council envisage sports coexisting with a Local Nature Reserve in a way that is not detrimental to our valued wildlife that call Warren Farm NR home. In our discussions with Ealing Council to date we have clearly stated our position on this.
We want to see Warren Farm NR given Local Nature Reserve designation in its entirety. It’s simply the right thing to do.
Together, let’s make it happen!
#WarrenFarmNR group