Public Meeting Being Held to Decide Future of Warren Farm
Council decision to allow sport on the site called in by Liberal Democrats
Cllr Gary Malcolm (second right) and Katie Boyles (right) At Warren Farm
A public meeting is taking place at Ealing Town Hall this Thursday (4 August) to discuss the future of Warren Farm.
The Liberal Democrat opposition on the council have ‘called-in’ a decision to reintroduce sporting activities at the site. This suspends the implementation of a policy until an extra meeting is held to review the initial decision. Campaigners hoping for the whole of the area to be designated as a Nature Reserve are opposed to a plan to site a cricket field on Warren Farm.
The meeting begins at 7pm and the public can attend in person or view proceedings online.
The Liberal Democrats are supporting calls to see Warren Farm and all sections of land in this area to be classified with a Local Nature Reserve status. They say that endangered skylarks likely to be lost if the plan gets the go ahead.
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."
He added: "If you would like to watch the meeting, please log on to Ealing Council's Youtube account.”
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.
The endangered skylark that nests on Warren Farm
“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.”
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August 4, 2022
