There has been lots of construction work under way recently around Ravenscourt Park – and in the borough generally. I have mixed feelings about it. It is good that new homes are being built but very unfortunate that they should be so needlessly ugly. Part of the deal with these property developments is supposed to be Section 106 money – the property companies hand over cash to the council for specific local improvements.

The trouble is the money is not always effectively spent. Also sometimes it takes ages for it to be spent at all.

Take the money from the 282-292 Goldhawk Road.

Last December the Friends of Ravenscourt Park wrote saying:

We met last week with Peter Kemp, Planning Change Manager for LBHF, and he told us the working party led by Cllrs Cowan, Schmidt and Young are about to make decisions on the use of Section 106 monies for the improvement of Ravenscourt Park and other local amenities. 

There is general support  from both our groups as well as from other local amenity societies and from the Askew Business Network for an improved northern entrance (ie from Goldhawk Road) to Ravenscourt Park. Recent Green Flag judges have remarked on its uncared-for and unwelcoming appearance. As well as these considerations, the overhanging trees and shrubs form a dark corridor that can make park users feel unsafe.  

We would also welcome improvements to refresh the appearance of Starch Green, but we realise £75,000 will not stretch far unless funds from other local developments can be accessed as well (ie both the Linden Homes developments and the Royal College of Music development), so we list here what residents would like to see in order of priority.

Entrance to Ravenscourt Park 

• Significant tree surgery to reduce both the height and crowns of the holly and other trees along the path;
• Planting of shade and dry-tolerant plants under the holly trees, with proper preparation of the impacted and neglected soil. Edging should be added in order to create  a looked-after border that would discourage littering and fouling;
• A new gate which celebrates the entrance to the Park, set back from Goldhawk Road in a shallow curve of railings;
• New railings along the section of the path by the dog area – this now has chain-link fencing, to present a unified and dignified entry to Hammersmith’s flagship park.

Starch Green

• Plant additional slender trees with high crowns at the east edge of Starch Green, as this area is very open to the noise and traffic pollution of Askew Road and the roundabout;
• Remove the birch tree with a broken crown from the grassed area of the Green;
• Replace the broken and defective railings surrounding the Green;
• Make the wonderful Plane Tree a focal point by clearing away clutter around it, including the clothes and glass recycling bins to the Askew Road end; 
• Replace the brick planters with low level planting in a shape that focuses attention on the Plane Tree;
• Replace the circular seat which used to surround the Plane Tree.

These ideas have been extensively discussed with our members and with other amenity groups, and we would welcome your support for them.

Pretty serious detailed proposals. It seems to me they would deliver very effective value for money. Of course there will always be competing claims. I’m concerned about drainage. The Friends of Ravenscourt Park have also expressed dismay at the stench in the lavatories.

So Cllr Wesley Harcourt, the Council’s Cabinet Member responsible, would be entitled to implement the Friends proposals in full, or decide to vary them or to reject them entirely and spend the money differently on other things he regarded as greater priorities. What is unacceptable is the endless dithering.

The money’s been sitting in the Council’s bank account since May 20th. Long before that they knew it was coming. Yet they are just letting the whole thing drift.

Peter Kemp the Planning Change Manager says:

“Members of the administration are aware of the request from the resident group to spend money on this project. Members are currently working through the requests from resident groups for spend, from Section 106 agreements.  We will advise you of the outcome of this request in due course.”

Meanwhile the seasons change, the years go by and our children grow into adults. The council should get on with it. At present the its planning process lacks proper accountability to local residents.