Friends Zoom meeting 14 January

It was wonderful to have around 30 Friends in addition to the Trustees, and the evening’s discussion was immensely interesting and constructive, and helpful to all of us who engage with the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust (WSCT) and London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) and try to engage with HS2 and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC). The Chairman began by reminding Friends that we were a Charity, formed for the purpose of promoting and educating and preserving the Scrubs, but we had no direct responsibility for its management, which was in the hands of LBHF and WSCT. 

HS2 and sewer diversion work:   Trustees were able to confirm that LBHF were submitting their planning application on Friday 15 January to OPDC for the alternative route for heavy lorries from Old Oak Common Lane, using the existing ‘gate’ and tarmac area.  It will appear on the planning area of the OPDC website next week and those Friends in favour should please tell OPDC.   Proper information on this will follow soon.

if this is accepted by OPDC, HS2 will begin work in late February, and will create a work area from the foot of the embankment south for about 40 metres which comes about to the wide (and now rather muddy) path.  There will be protective fencing so that people, including children and dogs, cannot enter the work area, which will include a track for lorries and the trench for the diverted sewer.  It will end a few metres into Chats Wood (Paddock) behind where Stephanie’s bench now sits, the bench being moved to a safe location, probably nearer the central copse.  There will be a compound for the lorries to turn and to store equipment south of Stephanie’s bench about to the edge of the model airplane field.  The route from Braybrook Street will begin to be used, for lighter vehicles and with matting for ground protection, on about 8 February, to provide access for vegetation clearance.  It was noted that this would be done sensitively, and in a way which enabled any lizards found to be moved to a safer area.  

It was agreed that, however unwelcome,  this was significantly less destructive to the Scrubs than the original plan for all entries to be from Braybrook Street, and the campaigners who had helped achieve this, led by new Trustee Faye Thomas, were warmly thanked.  

It was requested that HS2 be made aware that Chats Wood (Paddock) was rich in wildlife, having had much transferred into it at the time of the railway line development.

There was much discussion about how to protect the reduced wilder area from excessive footfall, to protect the ground and the wildlife, with suggestions for temporary fencing, whether rustic or steel mesh, - not wanted by everyone - and the more widely accepted suggestion of informational signage and improved ‘preferred’ pathways perhaps with wood chippings, to go parallel with the work area fencing and further south on the far side of the meadow area.  This recognised that people would go where they wanted, but could be encouraged to avoid the more sensitive areas.  New users who had been much in evidence in the summer, did not mean to be destructive, and needed guidance.

Opinions were also divided on the desirability of more hedges (good to keep people away from wildlife areas, but bad because they break up the Scrubs and cut sightlines and views).   Any new hedges should not be thorns and teasels, but traditional laid hedges.  

It was felt that signage was badly needed in many locations, and could be enhanced by digital availability, with QR codes or otherwise, as people like using their phones for information. 

These last points are urgent, but will have to be coordinated with the Ecological Masterplan.   The latest version was due shortly.  In discussion it was unanimously agreed that no users of the Scrubs wanted the proposed pond, which would quickly become a rubbish tip and danger.  If further wetland was desirable for biodiversity, the northwest corner, already very wet, was an ideal location, but not Martin Bell’s Wood except where it is wet already.  This is also related to theConservation Management Plan for which Trustee David Jeffreys had prepared an excellent response on our behalf for which all Friends present thanked him, as for all his other efforts for FOWWS.

Linford Christie Stadium:  It was reported that LBHF Officers had been too busy with HS2 matters so that the papers to invite proposals for its improvement or development would not be ready for some weeks.  In discussion of the three suggested alternatives, the community led enhanced Sports facility (probably led by Imperial College) was welcomed;  either of the two larger concepts (Sports stadium for 30,000, presumably for QPR;  entertainment venue for 20,000 people) were thought to pose huge threats to the Scrubs in terms of its tranquility, nature reserve, relative silence, and prospectively hugely increased footfall.  Trustees were asked to oppose the large schemes by all possible means, if put forward by LBHF.  It was thought that the hospital (as well as the pony centre and perhaps the prison, would not welcome either large scheme).  Trustees confirmed they were keeping Imperial College and Imperial HealthCare Trust in the picture and encouraging their participation.

It was agreed that a Lido would be a positive asset for the Stadium, but only if it could be within the existing footprint, and so managed to avoid needing subsidy.  It was agreed that allotments (as the farm proposed a year or so ago) were not a good idea, as one of the great features of the Scrubs was its openness, and anything, however desirable in itself, which restricted access and required fencing off, was not in keeping with the spirit of the Scrubs, and probably not within its legal scope, which is to encourage recreation and exercise for the inhabitants of the metropolis.

David Jeffreys reminded Friends that at the time of the creation of the OPDC, he and others had fought to keep the Scrubs within LBHF for planning purposes, but had not been successful, except for the Stadium.  It was agreed to see if there was any way of reversing this, possibly by OPDC delegating its planning authority for the Scrubs to LBHF.

The new contract for management and maintenance will go out to tender soon, and Friends were delighted to learn that the contract for the Scrubs will be separate from that for the rest of the Borough, potentially ending the subsidy from WSCT to LBHF of the past 15 years. 

Best wishes

Stephen Waley-Cohen