Ealing Liberal Democrats have expressed their concern with Ealing Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee who voted last night (4 August 2022) to not guarantee to the Liberal Democrat’s proposal that Warren Farm future should be free from a cricket or sporting pitch which the LibDems says will result in rare species of wildlife including skylarks having their future endangered.
At the LibDems arranged “called in” meeting at Ealing Town Hall, Katie Boyles, from the Brent River & Canal Society charity and Warren Farm Nature Reserve group, spoke giving a large set of evidence that having cricket or other sporting pitches on Warren Farm will cause a significant loss of biodiversity.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, leader of the Opposition on Ealing Council said: “Liberal Democrats are very disappointed that the Labour-run Ealing Council have not given a guarantee to protect the wildlife on Warren Farm. The results of a Council public consultation about Warren Farm showed that the vast majority of people liked the biodiversity and open space and want Warren Farm preserved and improved as a nature reserve.”
Councillor Malcolm added: “In the meeting it was revealed that the full Council plan for Warren Farm would be released in November and that it would involve a compact sporting facility. Liberal Democrats want to see representatives of all parties and experts on Warren Farm get around a table so options can be discussed, to see what might be possible to ensure the protection of this green space.”
At the meeting, Ealing Council deputy leader and climate action portfolio holder Councillor Deirdre Costigan said full consultancy with all residents and interested parties will be undertaken and no decisions have been made yet pending full council meeting in November 2022.
Full meeting below:
