Warren Farm Nature Reserve are organising a demonstration outside the meeting of the Ealing Council Overview and Scrutiny meeting on building a sports facility on the site. 

On Tuesday 21st February, campaigners are calling those who support the cause to stop the council building a sports facility on Warren Farm to join them outside Ealing Town Hall between 5:30pm and 7pm to peacefully show their objection to the decision made by the cabinet. 

Leader of the Opposition Gary Malcolm has called the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to bring council back benchers together to further discuss the plan and it could potentially lead to the issue being sent back to the cabinet for further discussion. 

Katie Boyles, Trustee of the Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) and Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaign organiser, said: "Until now, we have not called any street demonstrations. We thought it only fair to give Ealing Council the benefit of the doubt to do the right thing after the conversations we have had with Leader, Peter Mason and Deputy Leader, Deirdre Costigan.  

"We have shared with them expert evidence of why Warren Farm is such a unique and species-rich site and why our meadow, which has had 14 years to rewild, more than qualifies for full Local Nature Reserve designation.  

"But sadly, their decision to develop on half of Warren Farm, pushed through by cabinet councillors at a recent cabinet meeting, would be an irreversible act of environmental vandalism, so we now have no choice. 

"There is no such thing as losing just one species, it creates a domino effect of species loss. It's absolutely vital, seeing as we live in one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and are in a Climate Emergency, that our wildlife is protected.  

"Everyone of all ages is welcome to come join us for a peaceful and family-friendly demo on the 21st February, to lend their voice for the wildlife of Warren Farm Nature Reserve. If our Skylarks could protest, they would!" 

Since the Ealing Council cabinet approved plans to only protect half of Warren Farm as a Local Nature Reserve, the petition to stop this from happening has received another 4,500 signatures and the total figure now stands at almost 18,000 people. 

Angela Fonso, chair of the Clean Air For Southall and Hayes, said: "What sickened me about the council's cabinet meeting was the exploitation of children in Southall.  

"For parents struggling to pay the bills, the last thing on their minds is to go to Warren Farm for sports. Within walking distance, we have sports facilities on Spencer Street and Southall Rec but these areas have been shamefully neglected.  

"If the council is serious about reducing air pollution, surely, it's common sense that facilities should be on people's doorsteps.  

"We will be attending the Warren Farm Nature Reserve protest on 21st February and we are urging our supporters to come along.  

"We wholly support the campaign to make all of Warren Farm a nature reserve. The council's plan will de-wild the site. We need nature and we need space.  

"This plan is total madness and it's not what people want."