Shepherd's Bush Green Will Finally Reopen Next Month
Mayor invites community to official ceremony on May 20
Shepherd's Bush Green will finally reopen next month - over nine months after the original planning opening date last July.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council says the vast majority of the Green has been open since September, with local children enjoying the two new state-of the-art playgrounds and local people offering positive feedback after visiting the Green.
The council says paths have been resurfaced, with several being widened and new CCTV and lighting installed. The Grade II listed war memorial has also been reset onto a new granite stepped plinth.
And with the last remaining section of land due to be completed in the next few weeks, the local community are being invited to come and see the revamped Green for themselves.
The improved Green will be officially opened by the Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Cllr Belinda Donovan and a local celebrity on Monday, May 20, at 3pm.
The last small section of the Green has been closed following a catalogue of delays which the council says is outside its control.
First of all soil was found to contain ash, ceramic, bricks and other impurities, which would have been used to level the site after the Second World War. Then workers had to down tools as there was a London-wide embargo on this kind of construction during the Olympic and Paralympic period.
Next, the Green fell victim to the weather. 2012 was the second wettest year on record and a section of the Green became flooded.
The council’s contractor, FM Conway has now aerated this section and turf is to be laid in the next few days.
H&F Council deputy leader, Cllr Greg Smith says: " After several infuriating delays, we are delighted that the improved Shepherd's Bush Green will soon officially open. We have already received rave reviews about the Green and it has been incredibly disappointing that we have not been able to open a small section of the area.
" Nevertheless, we are confident that those who live, work and visit Shepherd's Bush will agree that the wait has been worthwhile and we now have a Green to be proud of."
The council says that despite the delays the £2.6million project is expected to come in on budget.
6th September 2012
