Ealing Liberal Democrats, Ealing Green Party and Ealing Conservatives have launched a cross-party challenge over a decision by Labour-run Ealing Council concerning the future of West Middlesex Golf Club.
The formal “call-in” process, backed by 23 opposition councillors, follows Ealing Council cabinet approval on 9 July 2026 of an agreement involving the surrender of the club’s existing 76-year lease and the granting of a new short-term lease until September 2027.
The challenge will be considered by Ealing Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday (23 July 2026), which can either allow the original decision to stand or send it back to cabinet for reconsideration.
As part of the agreement approved by cabinet, Greenford Road Limited (GRL), which has provided finance to the club, was also given an option to buy 2.27 acres of the approximately 130-acre site for a nominal amount after September 2027, subject to an overage agreement. The council would regain control of the majority of the land when the short lease ends.
The opposition councillors have questioned how the decision was reached, citing concerns over consultation, transparency and the council’s plans for the site.
At the call-in meeting, councillors will argue that giving GRL an option over the 2.27 acres is “a substantial loss to the community” and question why Ealing Council did not intervene earlier when West Middlesex Golf Club went into administration in 2019.
They also question the lack of consultation with club members and what will happen to the Metropolitan Open Land, adding: “There should have been at the very least a commitment to retaining this MOL for the benefit of the community.”
On the longer-term future of the wider site, the call-in says: “The future of the West Middlesex Golf Course has been left vague and unclear.”
West Middlesex Golf Club had already opposed the plans, warning before the cabinet meeting that the shortened lease could leave it unable to renew memberships beyond April 2027, potentially forcing the club into insolvency and putting 27 jobs at risk. A petition opposing the proposals has attracted thousands of signatures.
Ealing Liberal Democrat councillor Connie Hersch, the party’s spokesperson on crime, anti-social behaviour, communities & culture, told EALING.NEWS the Liberal Democrats backed the call-in because of concerns over transparency, documents relating to the agreement and the council’s plans once the lease is returned.
She said: “Giving away land to a developer will sound to many as something of a dodgy deal especially as many documents relating to the case were not made public. Even after a review of the these by councillors, many questions are left unanswered. Surely such a case should demand maximum openness and honesty not fueling further speculations about the deal.
Councillor Hersch added: “One of the major objections is the fact that the council has not revealed any plans once the lease is back in its possession. Surely such a major project would have been thought through beyond the first step?”
An Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “At the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 23 July, members will consider the call-in of the Cabinet decision regarding West Middlesex Golf Club (as set out in this report). The committee may determine that no further intervention is required, meaning the decision is carried out as originally made, or may refer it back to Cabinet for reconsideration.
“Cabinet decided to resolve a legal dispute by agreeing to the surrender of the existing lease of 130 acres and putting in place a short-term lease until September 2027. Cabinet also took the decision to grant Greenford Road Limited an option to acquire a 2.27-acre parcel of land. The proposed settlement provides a more certain and cost-effective resolution than continuing litigation.
“The Cabinet decision does not determine the long-term future of the golf course and no decisions about the future of the site have been taken yet.”
