Disgruntled residents and opposition councillors have failed in a bid to force a rethink of plans for a temporary theatre in a west London park.
Ealing Council is pressing ahead with proposals to grant a three-year lease to Troubadour, the company behind a number of large-capacity pop-up theatres, to build a 1,200-seat venue in Walpole Park, a Grade II-listed open space.
Opposition parties this week tabled a motion aimed at persuading Labour councillors to abandon the plans for the theatre in the historic park.
But the motion was voted down at a full council meeting on Tuesday.
Councillors from the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Greens argued that allowing a large temporary structure in the park would result in the loss of valuable green space while increasing noise and traffic on Mattock Lane, close to Ealing Broadway station.
Walpole Park could become home to a temporary theatre
Ealing Council / LDRS
They also argued it would harm local wildlife and undermine the financial viability of the longstanding Ealing Summer Festival.
Defending the proposals, the council leadership said the 36-month arrangement has the potential to rejuvenate Ealing Broadway’s high-street economy. It said less than 10% of the park would be affected.
The council has confirmed that a full planning process and public consultation will take place before any binding final commitments are formally made.
At the end of the three-year lease period, the theatre would be removed and the area restored to parkland.
Cabinet has approved the proposals in principle ahead of the standard planning process, when residents will have their chance to comment.
The theatre will be funded and managed by Troubadour Theatres Limited. The company also runs theatres in Canary Wharf and Wembley Park.
Troubadour works with production companies from around the world to host West End and Broadway shows such as Hunger Games, Starlight Express and War Horse.
The firm would pay Ealing Council a fixed fee for a period of three years.
The details of the fee have been restricted from public view due to ‘commercial and financial sensitivities’
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The Troubadour is known for running pop-up theatres
Steve Tanner
Construction work could reportedly start as soon as January if the plans are given the green light.
Connie Hersch, a Liberal Democrat councillor, this week warned of widespread disruption if the theatre is allowed to go ahead.
She said: “I would be very keen to have a big theatre in Ealing, but one ideally which is providing performance and not just disturbance.
“Dispersing [the Summer Festivals] to different parks would not be feasible… Our much loved summer festival might disappear.”
Peter Mason, the Labour council leader, suggested the venue was a temporary test for more permanent cultural regeneration.
He said: “Our high streets are dying… in terms of the rise of internet shopping competition and the lack of destination venues…
“Before a theatre company is going to invest tens of millions of pounds… they will need to understand whether a community like Ealing can sustain it.”
The wording of the failed motion said the proposed structure had “entirely inadequate soundproofing”
It said the venue would “cause noise nuisance to residents and local businesses, and to The Questors Theatre, and would cause sound issues for filming at Pitshanger Manor and Ealing Studios”.
The Conservative Group sought to add a strict condition to the motion that would apply a strict limit on a three-year term for the theatre. That was also defeated.