Lake Farm Country Park

Lake Farm Country Park

Ben Dearnley's skylark sculpture
Type Public park
Location Hayes, Hillingdon,
Greater London
Coordinates 51°30′42″N 0°25′50″W / 51.51167°N 0.43056°WCoordinates: 51°30′42″N 0°25′50″W / 51.51167°N 0.43056°W
Created 2002[1]
Operated by London Borough of Hillingdon
Status Open year round
Parking One car park

Lake Farm Country Park was until 2013 an expanse of green belt land approximately 60 acres in size fringed by trees and the Grand Union Canal, situated in the South of Hayes in the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its formal status as a country park dated back to September 2002.

In 2013 Hillingdon Council leader Raymond Puddifoot oversaw the giving of approval for building on the park,[2] in contradiction of his 2011 promise that green-belt land in Hillingdon would be safe on his watch: "I can give a categoric assurance that under this adminsitration we will never see a threat to the green belt."[3]

The former common land site was located approximately 0.5 km to the south of Wood End, Hayes, immediately to the north of the canal. It was bounded by Dawley Road in the west, Botwell Common Road to the north, and Botwell Lane to the east.

The Country Park had ten formal pedestrian entrances along Dawley, Botwell Common Road, the Grand Union Canal and Botwell Lane. It also had two bridleway entrances: one off Botwell Common Road and one off Dawley Road.

History

Before 1814 the area of Lake Farm formed part of Botwell Common, an unenclosed area of common land for use by the parishioners of Hayes. In 1814 the land was enclosed and divided up into a number of parcels, the greater part of the site going to John Baptist Shackle. Two large gravel pits were present on the site at this time (occupying 7 and 5 acres), in areas subsequently occupied by formal public open space. It is likely that the remnant hedges along the edges of these areas were enclosure hedges, which would have been planted around this time.[1]

Lake Farm was so-named owing to an ornamental lake that was located beyond the north-east corner of the site, in the grounds of Lake House, which was owned by Thomas Shackle. The lake was filled in 1954.

By around 1850 the Shackle family were operating brickworks over most of the current Lake Farm site. These were backfilled with clay and other materials, and after the Second World War the site was used for the testing of radar equipment for armoured vehicles. The Thorn EMI company continued to use the site until the early 1990s and relics of the testing facilities remain on site, including a testing tower and a derelict trailer.

Much of the site was formerly managed as arable land, but was latterly entered into set aside and developed as grassland, being cut annually for hay by the agricultural tenant.[1]

Lake Farm was formally made a country park in September 2002, after years of campaigning to save it from development.[4]

On 25 February 2012 more than 100 local residents took to the streets to protest about Hillingdon Council's plan to build a primary school in Lake Farm Country Park, in open defiance of its own Green Belt policy. Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell led a march from the spot earmarked for the building - the green in Botwell Lane, Hayes - to the town centre.[5] Since announcing its intentions, Hillingdon Council has stood firm in the face of public discontent, confirming in August 2012 that "the planning application [was] being tweaked."[6]

In January 2013, a GLA report demonstrated that Hillingdon Council's plan to build on Lake Farm was in jeopardy, and London's Mayor Boris Johnson raised major concerns over the Council's plan to build on Lake Farm. Transport for London also recognised that parents dropping off their children would cause major congestion and bus-service disruption.[7]

On Tuesday 5 March 2013, in a stormy council meeting, the Conservative majority of Hillingdon Council's planning committee members hurriedly rubber-stamped the application to build a school on Lake Farm Country Park. There were shouts of "shame on you" and "disgrace" as residents and Hayes ward councilors in the main civic centre chamber expressed their anger at the authority's resolve to press ahead with building on Lake Farm in defiance of sustained opposition from residents. Seconds after the Conservative majority confirmed their decision, the civic centre fire alarm was set off and all present were evacuated from the premises. Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell was one of five petitioners who spoke on behalf of hundreds of campaigners to strongly oppose the idea of building on Lake Farm. Speaking after the meeting, Mr McDonnell observed: "It was not democratic, and I've never seen a council meeting descend into such a shambles . . . The council's agenda is clear - once they have built on one part, they will come back for more."[8]

The Uxbridge Gazette reported on 24 April 2013 that London's Mayor Boris Johnson, who at the beginning of the year had raised major concerns about the idea of building on Lake Farm, would not intervene in Conservative Party (UK) plans to build a school on three hectares of green belt land, at the eastern end of Lake Farm Country Park. The Mayor's approval infuriated Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell, who called it a "disgraceful betrayal of our local community." Conservative leader of the council Ray Puddifoot claimed: "Opponents of the scheme have been given every opportunity to come up with an alternative site, but nothing feasible has materialised so we need to press ahead with the agreed proposal."[9] In August 2014 Mr Puddifoot made clear his volte-face on destroying green-belt land by making a photo opportunity of the former common-land site's final eradication.[10]

Flora and fauna

Most of the site was open grassland and shrubs, which Hillingdon Council said were "important for wildlife".[1] A trim trail ran through the site, which was recognisable by its skylark sculpture.

The site had a diverse habitat structure, including areas of ditch, hedgerow, grassland and ruderal/tall herbs.

Lake Farm was a popular habitat for birds. It was home to skylarks, which are included in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan for threatened species.[1] In July 2012 some of Britain's top birdwatchers descended on the park to catch a glimpse of a red-backed shrike, which is extremely rare in the United Kingdom.[11]

Facilities and features

The Country Park featured a bird sculpture by Ben Dearnley, who came to prominence as Official Olympic Artist for London's 2012 Olympics.

Two areas of more formal open space were situated in the north-western and north-eastern corners of the park, which included short-mown grass, planted trees and a children's play area.

Circular footpaths linked in with local roads and the canal, and the area was popular for dog walking as could be seen by the presence of dog bins. There is a BMX track on the western edge of the site.

Transport

Buses

The A10 and H50 use Dawley Road, and U4 and U5 use Botwell Lane. Hayes town centre is 500m away, with its many other regular bus services.

Train

The closest train station is Hayes and Harlington which is a little over 1 km walk along the canal.

Car

A car park is present off Dawley Road, which is only opened for events. Informal parking is allowed on the drive leading to the car park at other times.

Management

The area had a Management Advisory Group, and a Friends Of Lake Farm Country Park Group.

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Lake Farm Country Park". London Borough of Hillingdon. 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Griffith, Jack (6 March 2013). "Fury as Hillingdon Council approves green belt school at Lake Farm". GetWestLondon. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Council going ahead with Green Belt school plan". Uxbridge Gazette. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  4. ↑ McDonnell, John (5 August 2011). "Local MP, John McDonnell, has Launched the Battle to Save Lake Farm from Attack by the Council". Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Griffith, Jack (29 February 2012). "Residents rally against Lake Farm school plans". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  6. ↑ Griffith, Jack (22 August 2012). "Lake Farm school plans 'due within weeks'". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. ↑ Griffith, Jack (30 January 2013). "Boris throws future of Lake Farm into doubt". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  8. ↑ Griffith, Jack (6 March 2013). "Fury as Hillingdon Council approves green belt school at Lake Farm". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Griffith, Jack (24 April 2013). "Boris's approval is a 'disgraceful betrayal' says Labour MP". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  10. ↑ Drewett, Zoe (8 August 2014). "Final bricks are laid at new sustainable school in Hayes". Get West London. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Hayes, Alan (13 July 2012). "'Incredibly rare' Red Backed Shrike spotted at Lake Farm". Uxbridge Gazette. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
Bibliography