Chiswick Gunnersbury councillors call town hall meeting about festivals in Gunnersbury Park

Gunnersbury Park

The fight continues

The three Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors have called a public meeting for residents to discuss Gunnersbury Park festivals.

Councillors on Hounslow Council’s Planning Committee recently granted the Gunnersbury Park community interest company (CIC) a five-year planning permission for 19 live events a year, meaning that much of the park would be closed to the public for 115 days each year during the set up and take down of the festival stages.

READ ALSO: Councillors vote for 19 live event days at Gunnersbury Park every year for the next five years

The meeting will be held on Thursday 24 September at Chiswick Town Hall, with arrivals from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start.

The Gunnersbury Museum and Park Development Trust wanted the five year planning permission to save money and time spent on planning applications for individual festivals each year, which is money they say is better spent on the upkeep of the park.

Last year several events pulled out, some because the planning permission was not in place in time.

READ ALSO: Gunnersbury Park loses five days of live events as summer festivals pull out

A Festival Republic event in Gunnersbury Park last year; Photograph Victor Frankowski / Hello Content

“Residents’ views have been ignored”

Members of the Gunnersbury Park Garden Estate Residents Association, backed by the Conservative Gunnersbury councillors, fought against it and also forced a review of the Trust’s licence to hold events earlier this year.

READ ALSO: Gunnersbury Park allowed to keep current noise level for festivals

At issue is the noise and disruption caused by the festivals, with thousands of people coming and going, leaving litter, urinating in people’s gardens and adding to the transport problems, crowding local stations and making life more difficult for local residents.

Cllr Joanna Biddolph said:

“Residents’ views have been ignored and we want to do something about it. Worst of all was the fact that objectors were denied the chance to speak at the deferred planning committee meeting where the single most important decision was being made: how long the Gunnersbury Park CIC can operate without any regard for the effect of festivals on residents.

“The committee approved the CICs application for a five-year blanket permission, denying residents the chance to be heard for five years. If, as we suspect, that planning permission is then renewed, residents’ voices will have been silenced for 10 years, possibly longer.  It’s not democratic.  It’s not neighbourly.  It’s not right.  We want to consider next steps and future campaigning”.

Waterworks festival 2025; Photograph Jake Davis

Cllr Ron Mushiso said:

“We have always called for the views of our local residents to be central to the plans for Gunnersbury Park events.  Unfortunately this has not happened.  We are not going to give up and that is why have called this meeting.”

The third Gunnersbury councillor, Cllr Vickram Grewal, is a member of the Planning Committee and as such is not permitted to express an opinion on the matter, but he will be hosting the meeting.

“Although the planning decision has been taken, I am hosting this meeting alongside my ward colleagues to listen to residents’ experiences, explain the planning procedures and committee rules that led to this outcome, and advise constituents on how to engage effectively with council and enforcement channels going forward.”