Hounslow residents rally to save Hatton Fields

Friends of Hatton Fields joins CPRE London’s Ten New Parks for London Campaign

A coalition of local residents and campaign groups[i] want Hounslow Council to drop plans to turn Hatton Fields near Heathrow Airport into warehousing and logistics buildings and instead work with them to develop an alternative plan for the site.

The local group has now joined CPRE London’s Ten New Parks for London campaign which aims to save neglected green spaces across London from development by helping the residents who use the spaces to create a clear new identity for each one, as a local park, nature reserve or publicly accessible green space.

As part of their local campaign, the friends group has created a Vision for Hatton Fields which details the improvements and commitments they want from the local council. They have also set out a Vision for Hatton Fields summary vision and road map.

Clare Obeng of the Friends of Hatton Fields, a 107-acre biodiverse green space with Green Belt protection, said: “At the moment this green space separates our family friendly, community-minded village from one of the busiest airports in the world. If this development goes ahead, it will be like living inside the airport.

“We can do better for the West of the borough than losing this highly valued community green space. We want the entire site to be given a clear identity as a nature reserve, we want to restore an ancient orchard, open up community access to the Duke of Northumberland River and create a small-scale community garden.

“The fields are incredibly important to help Hounslow manage climate change. They help manage air quality and temperature and are an important carbon sink and natural sponge soaking up heavy rainfall.

“On top of that, important habitat will be destroyed. Part of the site is designated as being of London-wide importance for nature and the whole site is a home for wildlife. In the winter months it becomes a natural wetland. In the spring and summer months several areas become long-grass meadows. Residents and other professional organisations have recorded a huge range of wildlife.[ii]

“The proposals will also have a huge impact on the Green Belt, leading to the merging and overshadowing of Bedfont and Hatton villages which are unique in character and ancient villages that currently retain their semi-rural village look and feel.[iii]

Alice Roberts of CPRE London said: “We’ve collectively questioned the need for extra space for logistics business to support Heathrow Airport, given Heathrow is still operating at lower capacity than pre-Covid and no one knows when it will fully recover. But we’ve also said there are vast areas of surface car park surrounding the airport which could be used instead, with car parking either stacked or reduced.”

www.friendsofhattonfields.co.uk

friendsofhattonfields@gmail.com

@HattonFields (twitter)

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[i] Friends of Hatton Fields is collaborating with Friends of the Earth, Friends of River Crane Environment (FORCE), CPRE London, Brentford Voice and Hounslow Green Party

[ii]

[iii] Impact of the development on Green Belt

Greenbelt is protected to prevent urban sprawl and to create separation.  The implication of building warehouses across this site to local residents is huge. North Feltham Industrial Estate to the East plus the existing industrial units in Radius Park would effectively be connected across a huge expanse of Green Belt all the way to Heathrow Airport and Hatton Cross.