Management of the Borough's Green Spaces Made an Election Issue

Parks Forum obtains pledges from political parties

Daffodils in a local park

April 30, 2026

A borough-wide survey of park volunteers has highlighted growing concerns about the upkeep and future management of green spaces in Hounslow, as local election campaigning gathers pace.

The Hounslow Friends of Parks Forum, which brings together 54 volunteer groups dedicated to protecting and enhancing local parks, asked its members to identify their top priorities ahead of the upcoming elections. Four key issues emerged, including the need for a dedicated budget to fund essential repairs.

In response, the Forum’s Chair, Kathleen Healy, contacted all major political parties standing in the borough, inviting them to discuss the findings and outline how they would address the concerns raised.

Healy said the Forum was encouraged by a commitment from Labour to include a £1.4 million maintenance fund for park repairs in its manifesto. She emphasised that while investment in new facilities is welcome, maintaining existing infrastructure is equally important. “Investment to create new playgrounds is always welcome,” she said, “but keeping existing playgrounds, bins and benches in good repair is essential.”

Representatives from the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats also engaged with the Forum, holding meetings with their respective leaders, Peter Thompson and Roger Crouch. According to Ms Healy, these discussions were constructive, with both parties expressing a willingness to work with the Forum in future, although no specific manifesto pledges were made in relation to the issues raised.

The Green Party responded to the Forum’s outreach but did not take up the offer of a meeting. However, it indicated a willingness to collaborate going forward. No detailed policy commitments were provided at this stage.

The Forum said it received no response from Reform UK.

Ms Healy stressed that the Forum remains politically neutral and intends to work constructively with whichever party or parties form the next administration, as it has done previously.

Alongside funding for repairs, the Forum’s priorities include investing in skills and training for those managing parks, improving transparency around how developer contributions are spent on green spaces, and securing long-term protection for parks through formal agreements with Fields in Trust.

The group is also calling for a shift in how decisions about park improvements are made, advocating for greater public involvement at an early stage rather than consultation after plans have already been finalised.

With parks playing a vital role in community life, biodiversity and public wellbeing, the Forum hopes its campaign will ensure these spaces remain a priority for the borough’s future leadership.