Ealing Council rejects plans for temporary theatre in Walpole Park
Ealing Council has rejected plans for a new theatre in Walpole Park, following a heated debate at a full council meeting.
Councillors voted against the proposal to lease a section of the popular park to Troubadour Theatres, despite the project being presented as a temporary measure to boost the local economy and arts scene. The decision came after significant opposition from residents, with over 8,000 signatures on petitions against the development.
Councillor Connie Hersch, who moved the opposition motion, raised concerns about noise nuisance, loss of public access to the park, displacement of the Ealing Summer Festivals, and the potential impact on wildlife and traffic. She argued that alternative brownfield sites should be explored for a theatre and questioned the financial viability of the project over a three-year period. The meeting information does not detail specific proposed measures to mitigate noise nuisance and traffic impact, but Councillor Hersch's concerns, alongside those of Councillor Julian Gallant who mentioned generators running seven days a week, or extensive recabling
, imply that any such measures were not deemed sufficient by the opposition.
Seconding the motion, Councillor Ksenia Maximova highlighted the overwhelming opposition from residents and stated that consultation should precede decisions, not follow them. She added that residents had not received satisfactory answers to their concerns.
Regarding the Ealing Summer Festivals, Councillor Hersch stated that their future is left in the balance
and that the theatre would displace them to other parts of the borough.
She also noted that Ealing Summer's economics relies on the cost savings provided by sharing infrastructure between events, this threatens the viability of many elements. It is unclear if the providers of the summer festival are even willing to be relocated.
However, Councillor Dominic Moffitt, speaking in opposition to the motion, described the proposal as a temporary measure to test the viability of a world-class theatre in Ealing and boost the local economy. He argued that the opposition was misleading residents about the loss of park space and that the project was subject to a thorough planning process.
Councillor Peter Mason, Leader of the Council, defended the proposal as a necessary step to address the decline of high streets and create destination venues. He stressed that the proposal was temporary and subject to various approvals, including planning.
Despite these arguments, the amendment to ensure the theatre would be removed at the end of the three-year period fell, and the main motion to withdraw the proposal was lost. The council's decision means that the theatre will not be built in Walpole Park.
Further details on the council's agenda and public reports can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and Public reports pack for the meeting on Tuesday 13 October 2026.