Most residents approve of plans for Shepherd's Bush Green

A majority of residents have responded positively to proposals to completely redesign Shepherd’s Bush Green, following a recent exhibition of the plans at the West 12 Centre.

According to the council, seventy-three per cent of those who attended the exhibition agreed that overall, the plans were “very good” or “good”.  

The £3.3 million proposals include extensive children’s play facilities, a skateboard area, improved CCTV and lighting and a café with new toilets. There will be a boulevard on the outside of the common and a new cycle path.  

The design of the young children’s play area scored highly with 70% of respondents saying it was “good” or “very good” and 66% saying the same about the older children’s area. The café also did well, with 62% of people who took part in the questionnaire liking the appearance of the building.

However, the online consultation results show some concern over the disappearance of the tennis courts and the apparent lack of a dog exercise area.  

“What happened to the tennis courts?” asks one respondent. “I don't see why there should be a skate park which caters for a small number of people. Currently there are no high quality tennis courts in Shepherd's Bush.”

“I think it’s disgusting that you are taking away the dog area,” complains another. “There are a large number of local residents who have dogs and no garden and the dog area on the green is the only place that they can take their dog for their daily exercise.”

Despite the generally high rating for the children’s play areas, some have expressed concern about the location: “I am surprised by the location of the play facilities. They are quite close to a very busy road. I suspect as a parent sitting at the play area it will not be very pleasant,” one respondent wrote.

Another questioned whether any of it would make any difference, saying it would only work “if you sort out the groups of our alcoholic friends who will still occupy your nice new seating, and use your nice new park as a toilet - or are you proposing a harsh police presence?”

A planning application is now being prepared, and work on the new-look Green is expected to start in late spring 2009. 

31 July 2008