WSCT meeting report 6 March 2024

Dear Friends,

Faye and I attended the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust (WSCT) Committee on Wednesday, following the Friends of Wormwood Scrubs (FOWWS) Trustees’ meeting on Monday.   In those Minutes, just circulated by Sarah Johnson, you can see that there were plenty of issues we felt needed  clarifying, all of which we raised and received responses, listed below

Here is our report from the meeting, which I am sure that at least some Friends will have watched/listened, either as it happened, or later.

Matters arising from the Minutes of the December meeting:  (most items came up within the papers for the meeting)

It was confirmed that Officers were continuing to take the agreed position with HS2 that NO helpful arrangements would be possible until there was a formal agreement that HS2 would return the land they had acquired under the authority of their compulsory purchase powers, once they no longer needed it;  the basis was that there was no compensation payable to WSCT by HS2 for the acquisition, and no price payable by WSCT to HS2 on its return.  This had been agreed, years ago and more recently, in discussion, but HS2 were still failing to document it.  (The land concerned is mainly what is known as the UTX site, close to the new station and Old Oak Common Lane, where utility works are being re-routed, a long slow process)

The WSCT independent bank account papers had all been submitted, but NatWest were so slow in processing them that a formal complaint had been made.  A separate bank account is necessary for successful applications to several prospective sources of funds for desirable projects.  (i.e. fund-raising)

Finances were discussed, and the position remains healthy, thanks mainly to the continued presence of the portacabin school on the parade ground area, likely to continue for some time yet, and higher than expected car park income .  It was noted that there was likely to be a substantial surplus in the year to March 2024, and a modest deficit in the year to March 25, mainly due to the timing of larger payments such as the grants for the Kensington Dragons improvements, new track, etc., for Thames Valley Harriers.    A proper policy for WSCT Reserves was presented and approved.

Stephen asked about the plan to improve the depot, because he had been concerned for some time that the cost falls entirely on WSCT, while the depot is also used for other Hammersmith & Fulham Borough (LBHF) purposes.  It was confirmed that discussions about this were now taking place.

Forest School (item 3b from the FOWWS Trustee meeting):  It was confirmed that the initial plan was for this to happen behind the Old Oak Estate Community Centre on Braybrook Street, for ease of access, availability of toilet facilities, etc.  There would be a trial period, and the results would come back to WSCT Committee.  It was agreed that this was a good expansion of educational and community use of the Scrubs, and that if organisations aiming to make a profit became involved, proper fees would be charged to benefit WSCT.

Biodiversity Masterplan (item 6 from the FOWWS Trustee meeting):  This had now been submitted to OPDC who are the planning authority, and after they are ‘validated’ would be available to view, with OPDC publicising them, including notices on the Scrubs and direct to FOWWS.   It was confirmed that no changes had been made following the walk with FOWWS Trustees (item 3f from the FOWWS Trustee meeting). 

Stephen and Faye informed the WSCT that FOWWS would be reviewing it, with external professionals expert in planning, ecology and limnology (ponds and lakes), and that they remained unconvinced about the proposed pond location and concerned about any excessive new paths.

Because costs had risen significantly since HS2 first granted the funds for the Masterplan, WSCT were asking various bodies for financial support for specific aspects (HS2 for paths and signage:  Urban Tree Challenge for trees, already resulting in 40 new trees, some of which had been planted in the wrong locations and would be transplanted to the correct ones;  Nation Flood Management for the pond)

Coffee Van at Linford Christie Stadium (LCS):  (item 3c from the FOWWS Trustee meeting)  There is to be a process to find a coffee van operator as a trial for 12 months (agreed to extend from the proposed 6 months), with regular reviews, including the impact on litter.

LCS Improvement Works:   This is now actively being processed, first for the track and lighting replacement, later for the demolition of the changing rooms and temporary portacabin replacement.  Track replacement will begin after Thames Valley Harriers final athletics fixture on 14 July, and is expected to take 4-6 weeks.

The Kensington Dragons Project bids from contractors came in much higher than initially allowed for, and work is under way to ‘value engineer’ the bids and review whether all planned elements are necessary, before agreeing to the request for additional WSCT support.  The Chair and Officers were authorised to agree terms if this proved desirable before the next WSCT meeting.

Grounds maintenance programme.   This was outlined and it was  confirmed (item 3g from the FOWWS Trustee meeting) that when further scrubs and bramble clearance took place, some of it would need non-manual, i.e. mechanical means such as flails.  It was noted that flails should not have been used on the hedge which had been laid by volunteers, and apologies were renewed.   It was noted that the contractor, IDVerde, were performing reasonably on the Scrubs, which was significantly better than their performance elsewhere within LBHF. 

Faye asked about the timing of the Local Nature Reserve (LNR) application for the Meadow area (item 3a from the FOWWS Trustee meeting), and it was confirmed that the delay was deliberate, to ensure that when granted, this designation could be properly managed, with two elements highlighted – firstly the ability of IDVerde to fulfil their necessary responsibilities, given that they were only just doing so at present, and, secondly, the willingness of certain users to accept requests to show respect for the needs of the new LNR, particularly professional dog-walkers in terms of both the numbers of dogs being walked and their ability to control them.  It was noted that despite the best efforts of the Law Enforcement Team, a number of professional dog-walkers disregarded the terms of the PSPO (Public Space Protection Order) limiting to 4 the number of dogs permitted to be in a group, regardless of however many dog-walkers accompany them. The timing of the LNR application is likely to be reviewed in the autumn.

The Traffic Management Scheme from Scrubs Lane was finally if belatedly completed and would soon be in operation, with authorised users being issued with fobs to operate the blocking pillars.

Braybrook Street Play Area:  following consultation, there was thought to be need for adding, replacing and/or relocating some of the equipment, probably to create a single improved play area, before fencing.  Designs are being prepared and will come to a later meeting of WSCT

Stephen asked about support for the FOWWS Dog Show, which he described as a major community event, taking place for the third year on Sunday 28 July;  it was agreed that some support might be forthcoming from WSCT with the Chair and Trust Manager authorised to agree the amount.

Faye asked about the proposed Wormwood Scrubs dedicated ‘hub’ on the website, as a direct source of communication and information about the scrubs.  Osama regretted that it was proving significantly more technically complicated to achieve than he had expected, and could not offer a likely date for its appearance.

Stephen also asked about the appearance of 2 new benches with plaques, (item 3d from the FOWWS Trustee meeting) not necessarily in the most needed locations given their closeness to existing benches, and whether this had been agreed in advance with the Trust Manager, and whether any financial benefit would accrue to WSCT.  It was confirmed that from now on any proposed new benches would first be approved, and their locations, with the Trust manager, and the issue of financial benefit was being checked.

The Chair, Cllr Alex Sanderson, spoke strongly about the proposed Southern Access Route from the HS2 station across the centre of the Scrubs to LCS.(item 3h from the FOWWS Trustee meeting)    At recent OPDC events, senior LBHF planning officers had spoken as if this was something desired by LBHF, and she wished to set out that this was not the case;  what was desired, and strongly, was a good access route from the east, i.e. from Scrubs Lane.  This should be at least for pedestrians, if not initially for vehicles, as a single access point from Old Oak Common Lane made little sense for such a large station.  She confirmed that LBHF agreed that decisions about any access onto the Scrubs from the HS2 station would be taken by the WSCT Committee.  The Committee all welcomed this strong statement, and it was clear that there was no desire for anything resembling the Southern Access Route.

Cllr Sanderson also spoke about the threatened closure for 4 years of Old Oak Common Lane to lower the road bordering the west of the scrubs to allow double decker buses to access the new HS2 station;  this had only recently come to light via an Ealing resident as HS2 rather astonishingly failed to notify anyone from Ealing council or LBHF council in advance, although a one year closure was noted and approved under the HS2 act documents. There will be major discussions both about alternatives and alleviating any impact on those who lived close to Old Oak Common Lane as well as on the wider area to be affected.

With best wishes,

Stephen Waley-Cohen

PS – after a week of drying conditions and improved walking, Sunday’s rain has taken us right back to the wellington boot conditions of a week ago.  Oh dear!