At next week’s council meeting, Ealing Council will be revealing details of its intention to create a regional park for the borough which could include include a cultural venue as well as closing Perivale Park Golf Course and its golf club which was established in 1930.
In a statement prior to the council meeting on 13 September 2023, Councillor Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council said: “We are creating a rare opportunity for an incredible new regional park in our capital. The Elizabeth II Park has transformed the east of London and this new regional park has the potential to have similar positive effect on the borough and West London.”
Councillor Mason added: “The proposed regional park would provide a beautiful new space with rewilded land and woodlands as well as new places to improve health, play sports and enjoy cultural events right in the heart of our borough.”
Among the sports mentioned by the council are cricket, tennis and football.
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, Ealing Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for climate action added: “Our plan for a new regional park is a massive step forward in the work we are doing work to tackle air pollution and reduce the impact of the climate emergency. We promised residents 10 new parks and 50,000 more trees but a regional park will be a real game changer, delivering not just new open spaces, but active travel routes, wildlife rich wetlands and habitats and a great day out for all our residents. We are looking forward to hearing your views later this year which will help us develop the plans for the new park.“
The council hasn’t revealed any details as to where the regional park will be located or what will happen to the site of Perivale Park Golf Course if it closes.
Members of the Perivale Park Golf Club have also expressed their shock at the plans which they say they were told by the council it would be closed in 2024 and petition to stop the closure has been started. More than 90 people signed it within days of going up.
The petition said: “Local Ealing residents are in danger of losing a popular leisure facility. After nearly 100 years Ealing Council want to close Perivale Park Golf Course and rewild the area. This is the only nine hole municipal course left in Ealing. It is especially popular with older golfers who find the course manageable, get two hours of exercise and meet up with their friends.
“The clubhouse cafe is also under threat, is a social hub for walking groups and clients from local health care facilities. We have had no reassurances the cafe will stay. We are worried that rewilding will encourage antisocial behaviour.”
In a statement, the council said it “will soon appoint specialists to develop more detailed plans for the regional park, which may include a comprehensive review of the golf facilities across the borough. In line with the council’s commitment to be open and transparent, residents and key stakeholders will be consulted on proposals before any decision is made, and the first public consultation will be on the possible closure of Perivale Park Golf Course.”
