Hounslow Council have embarked on a project to study Duke’s Meadow and see what could/should be done with it. They’ve hired external consultants to gather information and canvass the opinions of ‘stakeholders’ (or ‘leaseholders’ in the eyes of the Council, organisations like us that use some of the land).
A number of public consultations have already been held, attended by our Allotments Secretary and Chairman, to ensured our interests are protected. A long list of suggested improvements have been made.
Some good progress has been made:
- an improved litter picking regime is now in place with more frequent collections to ensure bins don’t overflow.
- ground maintenance changes at Dan Mason Drive are under way, including rail fencing and bollards to prevent traveller incursions.
- the Duke’s Meadows Trust is preparing entrance signs at the top of the Thames path, entering the Promenade, and
- the London Wildlife Trust will be meeting with the Council to prepare a management plan for Duke’s Hollows.
Now for the potentially bad news: the Council are ready to progress new traffic restrictions (see maps below) which, if enacted, will severely limit parking on Riverside Drive on weekends, making access difficult for allotment holders.
We have raised our concerns with the Council on behalf of all members of the Society – and all other allotment holders, too – and await a reply. I’ll report back when there is further news.