Bedford Park Society Survey Results

Meeting following AGM 20 May

The Bedford Park Society is inviting all residents to join a discussion on the results of the survey it carried out at the end of last year.

Following its AGM in St Michael and All Angels parish hall on May 20, at 8.30pm the meeting will be opened to anyone who wants to comment on the issues raised.

Nearly 140 people completed the questionnaire, which was sent to some 1,500 households in the conservation area. Initial results showed the majority of respondents think the Society is doing a good job, although there were plenty of suggestions as to how it could improve, and a vociferous minority felt it was too inward looking and wanted to preserve Bedford Park 'in aspic'.

A total of 105 people put protection from inappropriate development as the Society's first
priority, which suggests most residents understand its main remit. However, there is some misunderstanding regarding the Society's role and powers in the planning process; it is consulted, but the local authority ­ either Ealing or Hounslow council, as the neighbourhood is split between the two boroughs ­ has the final say.

The Society's chairman, Peter Eversden, commented, ''It is already plain that our biggest task will be to widen knowledge about the Society, its planning role, its policies and how it carries these out. Better communication is a key issue, so the Society is upgrading its web-site and giving its network of street representatives greater responsibility to keep in touch with residents.

''We want to hear the views of everyone in the neighbourhood so we can improve on what we do and the way we do it''

For more information
Peter Eversden (chairman) ­ 020 8747 3281 Peter Murray (deputy chairman) ­ 020 8995 4320 (eve)
020 7269 0060 Sandra Grant (press & publicity) ­ 020 8994 8274

May 4, 2010