Forum Topic

Acton Green W4 closed off area in park

It’s an awful shame every year for the sake of a few weeks of selling Christmas trees that a whole massive chunk of the common park is taped off so that families children especially social distancing practices are not prioritised for the community and families of the area I’m very surprised that nobody has  mentioned,  this as as the Sun is coming out  the park seems to be fuller and fuller, there’s lots of experimental busy things going on on Acton Green with lots of logs and planting to be mindful about.

Arnie Devi ● 1642d26 Comments

"Massive chunk" is somewhat of an exaggeration.That aside, I was distinctly unimpressed with Pines and Needles at the Christmas just gone. Their trees didn't look great, the staff were not really interested in helping, and I got over-charged for a set of lights.

Simon Tranter ● 1642d

How do you upload a photo for example to illustrate the cordoned off area?

Arnie Devi ● 1642d

Let’s say it comprises a few families or folk having a picnic or dog area to walk Green space is precious & limited in London.

Arnie Devi ● 1642d

Ultimately it’s a business utilising common ground for more than a few weeks the ground is mashed up for months after deeming it unusable there used to be growth of flowers & plants in that corner.

Arnie Devi ● 1642d

Aren't they planting a forest area (Alison's Wood)  opposite Murco Garage?  Is that what you are thinking of?

Lucy Chambers ● 1642d

No it more opposite The Dr’s surgery

Arnie Devi ● 1642d

For all its good intentions, the Alison's Wood project, as far as one can work out its final form, seems to have put a substantial area of Acton Green out of action for normal childlike activities, such as running around and throwing and catching or kicking a ball about.

Peter Evans ● 1642d

Arnie, you might very well have a point.  Presumably the people who buy the trees are local and do not share your view.

Stewart Jones ● 1642d

It’s still a business on common land where children should be able to play and people should be able to walk their dogs it’s for the benefit of the community not for someone’s individual pocket.

Arnie Devi ● 1642d

Is it a thing that we can now request an area to be a memorial garden?

Maggie Dodge ● 1641d

The company pays Ealing Council for the use of the land.

Stewart Jones ● 1641d

I was referring to the area near the Acton Lane entrance. It’s some kind of memorial garden I believe. Just wondering g how you get permission to do this?

Maggie Dodge ● 1641d

Maggie, I was replying to Arnie about his initial post about the area given over to the sale of Christmas trees.

Stewart Jones ● 1641d

Yes Stewart I know 😂I’m still trying to get an answer to my question, not necessarily from you 👍

Maggie Dodge ● 1641d

We all pay council tax & are lucky enough to live near a Green space is it worth it are they getting that much of a cut?

Arnie Devi ● 1641d

Most memorials in the area are trees planted in memory or benches, as I say it is common ground for use of the community. Bedford Park/Turnham Green/Acton Green was originally designed to be a garden suburb in 1875 As part of the Garden City movement, which is why the area is so attractive a designated conservation area.

Arnie Devi ● 1641d

The taped off 'Xmas tree triangle' on Acton Green looks as if the worn out bits have just been reseeded, presumably at the company's expense. Nice idea, but a bit pointless if they're just going to come back next Xmas and damage it all over again.

Peter Evans ● 1640d

A vote for the Christmas tree sellers in Acton Park. We have always found them polite and helpful and they were very good this year just gone with a couple of trees for our home. I agree with another poster that it is a relatively small area. We do not use Wheelers given their rude and unhelpful responses to a number of requests not to clutter the pavement outside Turnham Green tube and constantly blocking the pickup parking space.  They make things more difficult for those less able to move around.

Julie Canterbury ● 1640d

Ditto - we won't support Wheelers while they think they have some kind of special exemption to park their vans in front of the church and obstruct buses and other traffic, and they continue to block so much of our pavements with their stalls, particularly when social distancing was being encouraged.

Peter Evans ● 1640d

Shout out for Wheelers, they are a fantastic team, agree they did take advantage of the pavement during covid on the high road. We mentioned it to Spence & Jason and it was sorted. Wheelers has been a local business longer than I have been here so over 35 years, they also get frustrated re parking by the tube…..pay many fines. We should support our local business who is here all year round and NOT a pop up Christmas tree seller! Plus their Christmas Trees are the best in our opinion 😂😂😂

Jayne Thorburn ● 1640d

Wheelers are a great local company but the market will decide about their Christmas trees.

Stewart Jones ● 1640d

Wheelers get our vote every year for Christmas Tree 👏👏👏👏

Jayne Thorburn ● 1640d

Arnie, yes, we all pay Council Tax which is only one source of revenue for any council. Lest we forget, councils’ money from central government decreased by 40% between 2010 and 2020. This is what we all voted for. So the council flogs of a bit of the green for a couple of months a year...it’s paying for a social worker taking a child into care, or a teacher of the blind or a child to receive specialist provision which are statutory functions of the Council.  We can’t have it all ways, can we?

Stewart Jones ● 1640d

If they are that good then they won’t be afraid of the competition. Let the market decide !We all think our Christmas trees are the best.!

Stewart Jones ● 1640d

Surely the point is that we can spare a small part of the Common for a few weeks around Xmas because there aren't that many people using it at that time of year (weather, darkness etc)?If it were the height of summer, when the Common is extra busy long into the evenings etc, then I could understand objections.

Richard Cathcart ● 1640d

Presumably the fun fairs will return as I see they have in Ravenscourt Park. Can't wait to hear the debate on that one.

David Lesniak ● 1639d