PEOPLE are being urged by Ealing’s opposition Liberal Democrat councillors to sign a petition calling for Warren Farm open space in Southall to be preserved as an urban meadow.

The area, which has been untouched for more than a decade, is earmarked by the ruling Labour group to be partly used for sports pitches.

Wildlife experts, say the Lib-Dems, are concerned about the viability of laying pitches for football, netball and cricket alongside endangered species such as bats, skylarks and owls.

The Lib-Dems are calling for the whole of Warren Farm, off Windmill Lane, to be designated as a nature reserve, and so far 15,500 people have signed an online petition supporting their views.

Cllr Athena Zissimos, Lib-Dem spokesperson for the Environment, said: “Ealing Council needs to decide between skylarks and cricket. They cannot have both in the same space and they are fooling themselves if they think they can.”

Warren Farm petition Link