Ealing Liberal Democrats “called in” meeting to discuss Southall’s Warren Farm and impact on nature if developed

Ealing Liberal Democrats have set up a special “called in” meeting at Ealing Town Hall to challenge Labour-run Ealing Council and bring greater awareness to Southall’s Warren Farm to ensure it becomes a designated nature reserve and not built on which campaigners say will destroy the area.

This Thursday (4 August 2022) at 7pm,  the Liberal Democrat Group have ‘called in’ a decision which is a process where a Council decision is vetoed to allow for an extra meeting to be set up to review the initial decision. The ‘call in’ meeting is a public meeting and people can attend in person or watching on–line.

In a released document, Ealing Council has mentioned opportunities for development of Warren Farm which could include a cricket ground and which campaigners say will result in nature being destroyed including endangered skylarks likely to be lost if the plan gets approval. Previously there was concern that part of Warren Farm would be offered to Southall FC to build a new stadium but that appears to have been shelved.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of the opposition on Ealing Council said: “Liberal Democrats have called in the decision by Ealing Council for review so that they can hopefully change their mind and recommend that the Council does not allow any sporting activity on Warren Farm to protect the endangered wildlife like the Skylark who nest there. There are lots of other sites in Ealing and neighbouring boroughs where people can play cricket, football and sport, so this land should be completely rewilded to help the environment.”

The public can attend the meeting, or view it online.

Katie Boyles, Brent River & Canal Society trustee and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser said: “Warren Farm Nature Reserve is an irreplaceable rewilded community asset here in Ealing. It is a unique area grassland containing a number of vulnerable and rare species, several of which are facing extinction in London and the UK. The wide expanse makes it ideal for many rare species such as our Skylarks.”

Ms Boyles added: “If Warren Farm were to be lost or split up with just part of it left to nature, the ecological value of the site would be significantly diminished. The development of any part of it would amount to an irreversible loss of the biodiversity we know to be thriving here that could not be offset by re-wilding other areas – Warren Farm Nature Reserve is exceptional. It is essential that we preserve this vital green space for the borough for both wildlife and the local community. The entire site must be officially designated and safeguarded as the Local Nature Reserve it has shown itself to be.”