Ealing Conservatives have revealed that residents in Ealing and members of the Gurnell Sounding Board have come to them to express their concern over the lack of progress with regards to the redevelopment and reopening of Gurnell leisure centre on Ruislip Road East.
In July 2022 Labour-run Ealing council set up a Gurnell Sounding Board, chaired by Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, to consider a range of options and according to those involved with it, there is do deadline for the Sounding Board to report on the way forwards.
Among concerns is that Ealing Council wishes to build over Brent River Park.
Previous plans for redevelopment, including tall towers were were voted down by Ealing’s Planning Committee in August 2021.
In a statement, Ealing Conservatives said: “Ealing Conservatives raised the slow progress at a recent meeting of Full Council. Council Leader Peter Mason responded by arguing that the Sounding Board was, for him, the body to decide on the best way to proceed. Members of the Sounding Board are clear that the Ealing public’s primary wish is for a new
leisure centre, centred on an Olympic-sized swimming pool. They cite the example of the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park, opened in May 2022. This project was fully financed
without the need for a parallel housebuilding programme.”
They added: “Members of the Sounding Board are clear that the Ealing public’s primary wish is for a new leisure centre, centred on an Olympic-sized swimming pool. They cite the example of the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park, opened in May 2022. This project was fully financed without the need for a parallel housebuilding programme.
“Members are frustrated that Ealing Council appears to want the Gurnell site to be housing centred with a pool thrown in. Of particular concern is that all options being considered
encroach on Metropolitan Open Land, which has the same status as Green Belt. This includes the option of resurrecting the failed original proposal.”
