Gunnersbury Park Gets A Grilling Over Zip Wire Plans

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Councillors and residents want more consultation over commercial activities

A public meeting about the manner in which Gunnersbury Park is being managed was held recently following resident's concerns about the plan to hold commercial events there, including the recent controversial music festivals, and the introduction of a 'zip wire' by Go Ape.

During a planned presentation from Go Ape, residents intervened during David Bowler’s introduction, asking robust questions about the way the park is being managed.

The residents were told that visitors to the park will be consulted about Go Ape by holding pop-up consultations in the park. One local resident (who lives in Lionel Road) asked questions about the questionnaire and if residents could see the questionnaire apart from visitors. They were told that the answer , "lies with the board" of directors.

Residents were told by Go Ape that they would 'pull something together' for engagement in the autumn and would test it. They said they would be as open as possible about plans.

Residents said they felt this was too slow and engagement should have been put in place from the start, running alongside pulling together the programme of events needed to bring in money to fund the management of the park. Two Directors of CIC , the company managing the Park, were present at the meeting

Cllr Mel Collins told those present that he had been involved in the joint management panel for decades and been consistent in calling for greater scrutiny. Cllr Jo Biddolph supported his comments about the need for scrutiny which is important, but stressed, again, that it is different from consultation.

She reiterated her view that there was a need for a consultative committee (such as the one in Hampstead Heath ).

Another local resident made the point, that there is no oversight, and said there was no transparency and that it was impossible to get hold of directors - their names are listed in Companies House but no email addresses, phone numbers - so it’s hard to raise issues at board level.

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Cllr Joanna Biddolph

A Go Ape presentation on the Zip Wire outlined that this type of activity was usually held in forestry style locations, as opposed to a park, and that the emphasis is bringing adventure to people . It can be used for corporate days; birthdays; celebrations to bring people in on less popular days and it will be open from February to December.

The company estimated it will bring about 35 additional cars a day at peak; they estimate that about halfthe people coming to Go Ape arrive by car; there will be a traffic management plan.
They promised 1,000 free tickets a year would be given for local people e.g. local schools, people from disadvantaged groups.

In relation to the length of the lease, there were concerns expressed about a 25 year commitment.

Cllr Biddolph suggested a review with a break clause at five years. She was told that CIC’s lease on the park is for 25 years and the Go Ape contract is “coterminus” with the park but lease negotiations are continuing.

No lighting to be used. Go Ape has identified about six trees with bat populations and will be sensitive to that;

Dog walkers said that the Go Ape zipwire will be a draw so dogs will have to kept clear of it; this will limit the area for dog walking and it is possible that some areas would be designated for dogs on leads.

One local shouted; “This is not about Go Ape, it is about should Go Ape be in Gunnersbury Park. It’s about splitting the park in half. Does it make this park what this park should be?” He added, “commercial interests are taking over the reason the park is here”. He concluded, “At what point is it no longer a park?"

Cllr Biddolph has also called for local councillors from all three wards that border the park to be represented on the community interest company (CIC), the equivalent of a board, to ensure that local views are represented at a strategic level. And she says it is vital for transparency and accountability to underpin decisions and management actions.

She said she had made her first formal call for local representation on the CIC and for a consultative committee in March, before the community interest company took over the management of the park. Prior to that, she said she had raised it directly with David Bowler who was then waiting to take over as CEO of the CIC, after meetings of the park’s joint advisory panel.

August 31, 2018