Forum Topic

Something to be really proud of...

The former public park known as Gunnersbury.Now the Junta running it not only want to screw you for using it's facilities from overpriced refreshments from over levied caterers, an over expensive sports facility, over expensive 'events' and late drinking licences no doubt selling overpriced beverages but now they are to charge £1 an hour to visit by car.To boot a 4 hour maximum stay.A public park.Is this management who do rather nicely from their 'impoverished' income answerable to anyone?Something those who created this nice gravy train for the few can be really proud of.I wonder which electoral candidates will be claiming such a masterpiece of cronyism?

Raymond Havelock ● 1231d6 Comments

The parking app company they are using is currently showing a max of 10 hours parking for Gunnersbury.Each location on the app is customised for the venue, so either the app is wrong or the 4 hour limit has changed.....as it needs to for ie cricket matches!

Nick Jenkins ● 1221d

Big law changes on what private contractors can do and this is not private lands but public land by charter for the public.Gunnersbury and ultimately LBH and LBE could end up with several court cases.However the real reasons for the delay are, I understand precisely because of the the very serious flaws in the legal aspect of this initiative.No doubt all of the 'profits and more will end up being used to save their necks.

Raymond Havelock ● 1229d

I'm convinced the real problem with the Gunnersbury Park car park will come when enforcement starts. Giving the parking company, even one supposedly at the more reputable end of the industry, a contract that is solely based on fines is a recipe for disaster.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1230d

To be fair the horticultural side from the plantingsto the "forest" areas seems to be well managed.It's in the soil management (among other places) where nobody seems to have a clue. The same happened on Ealing Common where the Circus (or somebody) were contracted to reinstate the surface. But instead of using loam they simply dumped a load of clay which simply forms puddleswhen it rains rather than the rain soaking in.But it all gets signed off, nevertheless.Same as the footbridge in Boston Manor Park. Its only been there for what maybe 15 years and only ever takes the weight of pedestrians.And guess what, after just 15 years it's apparently got major structural problems. And yet apart from the obvious loss of an amenity, nobody appears that bothered or thought to ask for their (our) money back.michael adams

Michael Adams ● 1230d

I think I could have filled 2 pages of inept and poorly managed episodes. The facade that shields an anti local community attitude...unless you have money.The crass commercialisation and the complete double standards and cronyism of its Management and Stewardship.Truly disgusting in my view and something that anyone involved should be ashamed of.But as we see with so many, Failure is rewarded with such regimes by such regimes.

Raymond Havelock ● 1230d

You've forgotten to mention The Gunnersbury Park Swamp Surprise Challenge.This consists of walking from the Popes lane/Lionel Road entrance across the football and cricket pitches (sic) to the Sports Hall, without at some point finding oneself standing ankle-deep in water. The many areas of standing water will of course give a clue as to which areas to definitely avoid.But in other instances,  the appearance of the grass can be seriously deceptive.One helpful hint is to try and avoid those areas most popular with the crows.Just imagine, if the decision hadn't been taken to strip off the entire layer of topsoil, in the course of laying out the new state of the art (underwater) pitches,  visitors would have been denied this exciting new attraction.  michael adams 

Michael Adams ● 1231d