No Protection For Warren Farm Footpaths
Disappointment for campaigners but QPR welcome the decision
Campaigners have lost a bid to protect footpaths on Warren Farm after the council's regulatory Committee voted overwhelmingly against their application.
Three years ago Ealing Council controversially gave QPR the go-ahead to build a multi-million pound training facility on the Metropolitan Open Land and campaign groups have fought the proposals ever since.
Save Warren Farm (SWF) argue the 61 acres of public land worth £31.5million, has been 'gifted' to QPR for 200 years rent free, in May a group calling themselves 'Our Land', chalked a message on the grass at Warren Farm highlighting the issue.
They submitted two applications to register footpaths on the land as Public Rights of Way - and submitted evidence that the routes have been used for generations on a daily basis by people who live and work in Norwood Green and Hanwell and should be retained.
However, Barrister Douglas Edwards, advising Ealing Council, said on the basis of evidence ' no route can credibly be clamed to exist and moreover that as access to one route was through a hole in the fence 'the use of that route is not, in my view, as of a right.'
Last night at the regulatory hearing, Councillors K Crawford (Chair), Kaur Dheer, Kelly, Gavan, McCartan, Sumner, Woodroofe and Murtagh all agreed with him.
Conservative Councillor, Fabio Conti was the only member of the regulatory committee who disagreed. He told us:
" It was a disappointing decision by the Regulatory Committee not to designate the routes across Warren Farm. The routes across the site have been used by local people for many years.
More broadly the Conservative Group still believe that the administrations decision to award QPR a 200 year lease at a peppercorn rent is the wrong decision for local people and prevents the full community use of the site"
QPR's Chief Operating Officer, Mark Donnelly has welcomed the result:
"This is another important step forward for the new facility at Warren Farm and we are pleased with the Council’s decision.
“The majority of local residents remain supportive of the club’s plans and we are delighted with the decision which brings the Club one step closer to achieving its aspiration of delivering a new centre for the Club and community sport
If QPR implement the current plans the site will be surrounded by a security fence and access to the footpaths by the general public expected to be cut off.
We have asked for comment from Ealing Council and Save Warren Farm.
15th July 2016