Campaigners pledge to continue fight to protect nature reserve

Campaigners against the proposed development at Colonial Drive have pledged to fight on despite Ealing Council’s decision to grant planning to the developers Blackstone.

The vote at last night’s Ealing planning meeting was 7-6 in favour of Blackstone building apartment blocks up to eight stories high on the site in Bollo Lane adjacent to the Gunnersbury Triangle Nature Reserve.

All of the Labour Councillors voted for the development, apart from one, and all of the Conservative councillors voted against the proposal ( apart from one). The Liberal Democrat councillor on the planning committee voted against.

Gary Malcolm, Southfield ward Councillor, said: "It was totally wrong for Ealing Council to allow such a large development next to the Gunnersbury Triangle Wildlife Reserve. The 100 or so flats will cause parking problems and will harm the flora and fauna in the reserve.

The development is too high and too near to the reserve. Well over 1500 residents in the area signed petitions to show their disgust at the idea of this development that is an over development. Ealing Council has made a grave mistake and for the sake of £1.9 million given by the developer.”

The London Wildlife Trust is having an emergency meeting today to discuss further options. A statement is expected later.

The group, Hoot, (Hands Off Our Triangle) is also considering its next move.

The decision is a Mayoral referral ,which means that the newly-relected Mayor, Boris Johnson, may also be involved.

A petition of nearly 2,000 signatures, was handed in last week to a senior Council officer by Cllr. Gary Malcolm. And over 100 people, including actress Rula Lenska, attended a protest at the nature reserve last weekend.

The world-famous botanist David Bellamy, has come out against the development and written to Ealing Council on the matter.

The campaigners against the development say they are concerned about the potential damage to wildlife, as well as the likely negative impact on parking in local streets.

Protesters including Rula Lenska

Campaigners against the development want the buffer zone between the development and the reserve to be no less than 15m and planted with native species, and the height of the buildings to be no more than the highest buildings on the present site and preferably in scale with the tallest trees in the woodland.

You can visit the HOOT Official Website here.

17th May 2012