OPPOSITION continues to grow to the controversial Gurnell development in Ealing, where the council has now received 900 objections.

The plans are to demolish the current leisure centre and rebuild it along with six residential tower blocks, up to 17 storeys, housing 599 flats. The majority of these will be for private sale.

Opponents argue it breaches local, London and national planning policies as it is proposed on land that has the same level of protection as Green Belt.

Ealing Council’s case officer, responsible for the project, has invited everyone who has commented to an online presentation.

The planned new leisure centre will have a 50m pool expanded from six to 10 lanes and there will be a additional studio, though gym capacity will remain at 100 stations.

The estimated cost is around £40m and will take three years to build.

Critics say the scheme will involve 158 trees being cut down and a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation destroyed by the relocated BMX track.

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They argue that community will lose the openness of the park, which will be overshadowed by tower blocks.

Another concern is parking spaces for residents of the new blocks.

A spokesman for the Save Gurnell campaign added: “There will be no sense of inclusion or community either.

"The ‘communal’, areas such as the roof garden, will not be accessible to residents of the affordable housing blocks, and the affordable and private housing are segregated, effectively creating a ‘poor door’.

“If you oppose the plans, please add your comment via the council’s planning portal before the deadline on July 29."

https://pam.ealing.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=neighbourComments&keyVal=Q9K21JJM0GW00

http://savegurnell.org.uk/how-to-object.html