Ealing Liberal Democrats and Ealing Green Party have stepped up their opposition to Labour-run Ealing Council’s plans for a 1,200-seat temporary theatre in Walpole Park, issuing a joint statement calling for alternative locations to be considered.
The two opposition parties say they support bringing a new theatre to Ealing but have raised concerns about the loss of park space, noise and disruption and the impact on biodiversity. They are calling on Ealing Council to consider alternative locations and “review other land that they either own, control or influence.”
Ealing Liberal Democrats are the largest opposition group on the 70-seat council, with 13 councillors, while Ealing Green Party and Ealing Conservatives each have five. There is also one independent. The Liberal Democrats and Greens behind the joint statement have 18 councillors between them.
Both parties also represent areas around Walpole Park. The Liberal Democrats hold all three seats in Walpole ward, where the park is located, as well as one seat in neighbouring Ealing Broadway, while the Greens hold all three seats in neighbouring Hanwell Broadway.
Ealing Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Gary Malcolm and Councillor Clare Welsby, leader of Ealing Green Party, said in their joint statement: “A new theatre in Ealing is welcome however the first step should have been to assess and consult on whether the theatre would be beneficial and if so, where it could be sited?
“Labour has tried to merge these two questions, and it is not helpful.”
The joint statement follows Ealing Council’s cabinet decision on 9 September 2026 to agree in principle to progress the proposal from Troubadour Theatres.
Under the plans, the venue would operate for three years, with a further three months for construction and three months for dismantling. The proposal still needs planning permission, with consultation and environmental assessments among the steps still to come.
The Liberal Democrats and Greens have questioned whether there is enough time for those processes before Troubadour’s proposed construction start in January 2027.
Councillors Malcolm and Welsby added: “Given the amount of protest and the numbers who are likely to respond to the consultation as well as the planning process itself — is this even achievable?”
The parties have also questioned what the plans would mean for the summer festivals currently held in Walpole Park and raised wider concerns about the impact on the park and its biodiversity.
They said: “Biodiversity in Ealing and in Walpole Park is currently facing extreme pressures related to climate change, pollution, changes to land use, overexploitation of natural resources, and invasive species.
“We are living in a climate emergency and protecting biodiversity is key to protecting all of us.”
The two parties said they would continue to oppose the use of Walpole Park as the proposal progresses.
Councillors Malcolm and Welsby said: “We will fight to stop the Troubadour scheme being sited in Walpole Park at the next cabinet meeting and at a planning committee.”
Read the joint statement from Ealing Liberal Democrats and Ealing Green Party in full here.
Ealing Conservatives did not take part in the joint statement, although the group has separately opposed the use of Walpole Park for the theatre.
At last week’s cabinet meeting, Councillor Lauren Wall, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for culture, said Troubadour had approached the council looking for a temporary site in Ealing town centre to test whether a theatre could be commercially viable.
She said the council did not own another suitable site in the town centre.
Councillor Wall said: “The opportunity or question facing the council is not a question of where else this theatre could go, but whether it potentially comes to Ealing or not.”
Council leader Councillor Peter Mason also sought to reassure residents that the venue would be temporary.
Councillor Mason said: “In four years’ time, there will be no theatre on Walpole Park. That is the baseline position.”
