Following news that Ealing Council proposes to press ahead to make as much as half of Warren Farm in Southall into sports facilities, concerns have been raised that local football club Southall FC may be getting the land despite residents opposition.
Supporters of Warren Farm reacted with shock about the news and also anger at how Ealing Council leader Councillor Peter Mason reaffirmed that “we’re moving ahead this week with our plans for Warren Farm” despite large numbers of people saying they do not want sports facilities on the site.
Southall FC, which plays at Robert Parker Stadium in Stanwell, is owned by Sanjeev Sharma, son of Labour MP for Ealing Southall Virendra Sharma. Mr Sharma has been very supportive to see Southall FC grow with some suggesting a “Sharma Stadium” is trying to be pushed through despite residents not wanting it at Warren Farm.
Ealing Liberal Democrat Councillor Gary Malcolm, Leader of the Opposition said: “Liberal Democrats have seen in documents not made public that only a very small proportion of residents who were consulted said they wanted cricket or footballing facilities on Warren Farm. Many have said that if they allow a football ground to be established that it will be granted so that a relative of a Labour MP gets the contract!”
On July 20 2022, Southall FC posted on its website, “During the year, the Club was also happy to bring everyone some exciting news on the possible return of the Club back into the community of Southall, and there is now further good news.” It reported on a Ealing Council strategy and action plan and said: “the strategy highlights several issues, including the lack of facilities in Southall and the “lack of a suitable stadium pitch in the Borough to accommodate Southall FC”.
During a consultation period earlier this year in which Ealing Council asked residents what do you like from Warren Farm, only 89 expressed interest in “opportunity to revive Southall FC”, while 1,001 said “Biodiversity and open/green space”.
In the run up to the consultation during May 2022, Southall FC ran a series of tweets saying “Warren Farm Sports Centre identified as possible suitable site for Southall FC🔴⚪. Ealing Council have opened a public consultation we need outdoor sports facilities along with nature to rejuvenate Warren Farm.”
Supporters of Warren Farm who wish for it to remain as a nature reserve were concerned about the suggestion it was a suitable site.
One supporter said: “It seems somewhat concerning why they would say it has been identified as a possible suitable site for Southall FC. It seem very premature to suggest that and what evidence is there that it is suitable?”
At the time of the council consultation about Warren Farm in May 2022, Councillor Malcolm said: “Nearly 11,500 local residents have signed the Warren Farm Nature Reserve group’s petition demanding the site be designated a Nature Reserve but this option, which has overwhelming public support, is not even being considered.
“Instead it appears that the very worst kind of back-room deal may be being considered as Councillor Mason is pushing for the site to have a considerable football element. Southall FC, chaired by the son of Virendra Sharma Labour MP for Southall, are the only club to have expressed a public interest. On the basis of Companies House records it is hard to see how Southall FC could have the resources to finance such a deal without council support.”
Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaigners have highlighted the council plans to designate five of Hanwell’s Meadows as Local Nature Reserve, as put forward in the Brent River & Canal Society’s vision to create and protect a Wildlife Corridor, but the council’s proposal only includes half of rewilded Warren Farm.
They also say that even though Warren Farm has recorded rare species, the council plans to develop the rest of the site as a sports facility.
Campaigners have warned that developing the rewilded wildflower meadow would leave Ealing’s only Skylark population with nowhere to breed and contradicts Ealing Council’s own Biodiversity Action Plan which confirms that Warren Farm is the only place in the borough suitable for Skylarks to nest.
Katie Boyles, trustee of the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser, said:”While we welcome the council’s plan for a Local Nature Reserve in the Brent River Park, excluding half of Warren Farm is like removing the jewel from the crown. As the council itself acknowledges, nowhere else in the borough has the wide open space for skylarks to nest safely on the ground and the abundance of plant & insect species they need to feed their chicks. That’s why they don’t exist anywhere else in the borough. Our skylarks are a threatened species facing UK and local extinction. This proposal would certainly make them extinct in Ealing.
“It is frankly speaking, environmentally reckless. Where is the accountability for the council to follow their own Biodiversity Action Plan? To adhere to their Public Consultation results in which the overwhelming majority of respondents want Warren Farm Nature Reserve preserved for it’s rare and precious wildlife? The site has had 14 years to rewild and yet sadly, despite our conversations with the council to date, the scientific facts of the matter and our community’s wishes are being at best watered down and at worst, ignored. Warren Farm Nature Reserve is at risk of becoming the biggest de-wilding project in West London. We strongly encourage Ealing Council to have an urgent rethink, there is still time to do the right thing.”
The campaign for Warren Farm to be made Local Nature Reserve designation for the entire site and surrounding meadows continues. It now has nearly 15,000 signatories to the petition and people can support it by clicking here.
EALING.NEWS has contacted Ealing Council for a comment.
