Concern Grows Over Lammas Park Drainage Project
Residents feel that the two ponds being planned present a danger
A new drainage pond in Lammas Park.
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November 27, 2024
The long-running project to install sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) in Lammas Park is seeing increased opposition from local residents some of whom believe it compromises the safety of park users.
Work began in May on the scheme which is being carried out by Ealing Council in partnership with Thames Water and the Environment Agency. It involves building two new ponds, which it is claimed will increase flood resilience, for homes around the park. 2,700 properties in the area have been identified at risk from flooding.
The council had originally hoped to finish the flood prevention part of the project by this September, but the work has been delayed by issues with planning permission.
While most people agree with the objectives of the scheme, there are those who are unhappy with the positioning of the ponds in the centre of the park and close to a children’s playground.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has published figures showing that over 85% of accidental drownings occur at open water sites and it recommends that public playgrounds should be at least 30 metres away from any drowning risk.
Some feel that this project is changing the nature of the park from one in which families could relax to an area in which caution is needed for those with small children.
A petition calling for the abandonment of the project has been signed by 342 people.
One opponent of the scheme said, “Suffice to say we are all very unhappy that our park has been ruined with no prospect of a return to the way it was before - a family friendly and much loved and used facility.”
The council says that the scheme has been designed and constructed to national safety standards and that the RoSPA will be invited to undertake a safety inspection prior to the area opening.
The project has left large sections of the park unusable.
Residents claim that there was little consultation about the original plans, with the work started following the placement of some small notices at the site, leading to speculation about what was happening including some suggesting it may be an archaeological dig. The council disputes there was a lack of consultation about the project saying that they consulted with the public from June to September 2023
It has since placed information boards at the site explaining the project and how it will proceed.
The ponds aim to reduce the pressure on local storm sewers as they will store rainwater during heavy downpours which will then be slowly released into drains.
The new water channels will connect to an existing swale in the northwest corner of Lammas Park that already receives overflows from the Thames Water storm sewer.
Following works earlier this summer, the council realised that some of the ground levelling works outside of the site boundary were not covered by the original 2023 planning approval and this is what has required a pause in the project.
The council says it has submitted a new planning application and hopes to begin another consultation within the next couple of weeks but this has yet to appear on the weekly lists of new applications on its web site. Planning notices will be put up with details of how members of the public can give feedback.
In the likely event of planning permission being granted, work will resume on the site next spring with the hope that areas of the park can be reopened by summer when it is deemed safe to do so.
Once the infrastructure is in place the council is proposing to put in place wetland plants to increase biodiversity in the park. For every tree that had to be removed to make way for the ponds, three will be planted in their place.
The park will remain open throughout the work, with some areas being fenced off for safety. The football courts and playground will remain open throughout the project.
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