Please also sign at:

https://ealing.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx?bcr=1

We the undersigned petition the council to not progress the proposal for the new Troubadour Theatre development in Walpole Park. While we support cultural investment in our borough, we strongly oppose this specific development due to its severe negative impacts on the local community, infrastructure, and the environment. We urge Ealing Council, in particular the Cabinet Members, to protect the interests of local residents by not giving approval to this proposal. The current proposed location within a historic Grade 2 listed park is inappropriate.

Justification:

Why This Matters

* Loss of Community Character: The scale and design of the proposed building are completely out of character with the surrounding neighbourhood, threatening the heritage and identity of the local area.

* 'Temporary' Nature of the Development: Ealing Council are presenting 3.5 years as 'temporary' where Historic England defines 'temporary' as 28-days or less within the context of development of open spaces. It is clearly not temporary.

* Pollution: Late-night performances, alcohol consumption, litter, crowd dispersal, servicing vehicles, and bright external signage and noise from performances and crowds will disrupt the peace and well-being of neighbouring residential areas.

* Impact on Current Users of Walpole Park: The park is used by families, children using the play facilities, sport and fitness groups, dog-walkers and more. Entertaining 1,200 people each day in the park would not only affect its current users, it would also present potential safety risks (e.g. keeping children safe).

* Adverse Impact on Wildlife: Walpole Park provides a habitat for many species of wildlife. The vision of the Ealing Biodiversity Action Plan is to: 'Conserve and enhance habitats that create better, and more interconnected places for wildlife across Ealing'. The proposal will be to the detriment of Walpole Park's wildlife.

* Inconsistency with the Local Plan: Policy G4: Open Space states: 'Development proposals on green and open space should: (i) Be led by the purposes of nature conservation and recreation. The size of development within green and open spaces and its impact upon visual openness must be kept to a minimum. (ii) Preserve and enhance the visual openness of green and open spaces particularly with regard to views to, from, within, and across these areas'. The proposal contravenes Ealing Council's own policy for developing open spaces.