Awards winners for the third year running

Ealing's Parks and Countryside Service has once again been recognised in The Civic Trust's Green Flag Awards, with two of its parks named as winners for 2005/06.

Both Acton Park and Southall Park have kept their prestigious Green Flag status and will continue to fly the flags until mid-2006. This is the third year in a row Acton Park has been recognised.

The independent Green Flag Award is presented annually to parks that have reached the national standard and has become the benchmark against which the quality of public parks and green spaces can be measured. To win, a park has to be well managed, have good environmental practices and be well used and highly thought of by the public.

Cabinet member for Streets and Environment Councillor John Delaney said "As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality open spaces, the council has completed significant improvement works to both of these parks to make them more inviting and accessible for local residents.

"It is a great achievement to retain our Green Flag status for successive years. Winning these prestigious awards is well-deserved recognition of the hard work of our Parks and Countryside Service."

The Civic Trust uses eight criteria to judge the Green Flag Awards: a welcoming place; healthy, safe and secure; well maintained and clean; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management.

Head of Parks and Countryside Service Peter White collected the awards at a ceremony at London's Guildhall on July 28.

August 1st, 2005