Report of WSCT meeting on 24/3/21

Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Committee (WSCT) Meeting March 24th 2021

Friends Trustee Miriam Shea writes:

Stephen and I attended the meeting in our capacity as non-voting co-opted members. Councillors Sanderson, Rowbottom and Donovan were present as were Council Officers and the Charitable Trust’s auditors.

As per (pandemic) usual the teams meeting was live streamed on YouTube, it has had 110 views so far.

Stephen and I continue to work with councillors and officers to improve transparency and management of Wormwood Scrubs, highlight conflicts of interest, raise issues of concern to the Friends of Wormwood Scrubs and ensure the long-term future of the Scrubs as more wild than tamed.

The key issues discussed (in the order they were addressed in the meeting) were:

Finance

There was a long discussion of the financial position, including a presentation by the new Auditors.  We are pleased that they are independent of the auditors working for LBHF giving WSCT clearer evidence of proper financial management by the Council.   The overall finances seem reasonably healthy due largely to the rent coming from Kensington Aldridge Academy on the red gra parade ground, which council officers expect to remain there for another 2-3 years. 

The HS2 Alternative Ecological Mitigation (AEM) works

The latest and final (?) version of the masterplan which lays out the environmental / ecological improvements planned was presented to the WSCT. The plan is now less interventionist (no avenue of trees across the sports pitch area; no pond) and ensures a better distribution of funds between initial works and longer-term maintenance. The plan includes increasing the number of species in the grassland / meadow, improvement to paths, additional woodland with fewer trees rather than dense planting, small swales for drainage, and improved signage.

We requested that the masterplan be made publicly available as soon as possible and Cllr Sanderson asked for a further round of consultation / community engagement.

HS2 sewer and utility works on the Scrubs

The vegetation clearance on the site of the sewer works is largely completed and the alternative access route from Old Oak Common Lane now has planning approval. We and Cllr Sanderson pushed for clarity on when the matting providing access from Braybrook Street will be removed. We also asked for clarity on the following points:

Vegetation clearance outside the fencing – according to Steve Hollingworth in certain areas HS2’s fencing is slightly inside its agreed boundary and HS2 is not clearing outside its agreed boundary nor is HS2 proposing more vegetation clearance or tree felling further into Chats Paddock. He says the actual boundary is marked by posts in the ground. If HS2 is clearing outside these posts then please let us and more importantly council officers know.

Damage to pathways caused by HS2 driving off matting – compensation has been agreed between LBHF and HS2. LBHF will carry out the remediation works and HS2 will fund them.

Timeline – HS2 will have finished its access works including the alternative route from Old Oak Common Lane by April / May and then will put up hoardings to replace the current fencing. There was some discussion in the WhatsApp group about the community decorating the hoardings which sounds like a great idea perhaps to be taken up with HS2? HS2 can be on site for a maximum of 18 months but are apparently planning to be done sooner.

The creation of the alternative route will, as is already known, involve some further vegetation clearance.

Reinstatement/ remediation – HS2 is legally required to fund reinstatement or repair of damage done. Discussions about the details of this will start 6 months before the completion of HS2’s sewer / utility works when it will be clear how much damage they have done and what reinstating it will cost.

Protesters

We asked about the protesters camping in Chats Paddock just east of HS2’s compound.   Officers have visited them and found them disbelieving of anything HS2 says (not surprisingly), and therefore reluctant to leave.  LBHF wish to respect the right to protest and hope that the damage caused by the camp will be reasonably modest.  It is felt that once the HS2 hoardings replace their fencing, the protesters may be more willing to accept that HS2 have no plans to expand further east or commit any of the additional horrors feared by the protesters and others.

Park Lodge

We pointed out that any rebuild / refurbishment of Park Lodge with the aim of either renting or selling it would seem to be in contravention of the Charitable Trust’s mandate and against the ethos of the Scrubs.  As one proposal is for the return of this space to open land with the tenant rehoused elsewhere, we also requested that an ecology centre on the site be considered, again with the tenant rehoused elsewhere. This option might also include external toilet provision.

Grounds maintenance and management

Funds have been made available to hire a Scrubs manager. I will sit on the interview panel with Cllr Sanderson. The grounds maintenance contract is up for tender and is a separate contract from that for the rest of LBHF, and I will sit on a sub-committee to oversee this process. We requested that Emma Ranson be invited to join this sub-committee.

Hedging

Stephen reminded the meeting of the problems concerning the meadow area.  They began in the very wet winter of 2019-20 when, despite regular requests to LBHF to manage the paths they became so muddy that people created the alternative ‘desire line’ paths through the middle of the meadow.  Prior to this, walkers had generally been very respectful of the signs requesting avoidance of the eastern section of the meadow most likely to be the site of ground-nesting birds.

As regards the hedging activities to protect the meadow, Stephen thanked the Chair of WSCT for her statement earlier this week, endorsed by him and by Emma Ranson.  It was hoped that this would lower the temperature as there has been more division among the Friends and among the broader Scrubs user community than ever seen before.

Stephen said that while of course volunteering is welcome and to be celebrated, a lack of clear leadership and communication by LBHF had led to some works which were not agreed in advance and perhaps it was this that was in large part the source of strife.

LBHF had authorised volunteers to provide in-fill to the gaps in the hedges to the east and south of the meadow, and the volunteers had taken the initiative to extend the protection on the north side, while also creating boundary guidance by dead hedging along the north side and west end, and westwards beyond the hedging on the south side.  These extensions were only approved by LBHF after they had been put in place, and it has now agreed that they will remain until July this year, with no additional hedging.

It was noted that there was no prohibition on walking in this area, but users were encouraged to avoid the more sensitive parts where ground-nesting birds were most likely to be found.  It should be remembered by those wishing to provide guidance to walkers that what they offer as polite encouragement could be received as something else. 

I requested additional evening police patrols to deter any kind of vandalism.

LCS redevelopment

No news here which can only be a good thing. There may be a report on progress to the June meeting.

Friends will wish to know that your Trustees are taking legal advice in order to be as well prepared as possible when the ‘procurement process’ is completed. Please also see our AGM papers which will be available fairly soon.