Councillor Husam Alharahsheh is a Green Party councillor for South Acton. He writes about Ealing’s growth, the future of its green spaces and why he believes development and investment in the borough must be balanced with stronger environmental protection.
“Ealing has long been known as the Queen of the Suburbs, a title earned through its rare combination of thriving communities, transport links, green spaces and quality of life. People choose Ealing because it offers something special: a place where growth, community and access to nature can coexist.
“As the first-ever elected Green Party councillor for South Acton, alongside four excellent Green colleagues serving residents in North Acton and Hanwell Broadway Wards, I am proud to represent residents who care deeply about the future of our borough. While I am elected to serve South Acton, I also believe our responsibility as councillors is to think about Ealing as a whole. The decisions we make today will shape not only our individual wards, but the borough that future generations inherit.
“Ealing is growing rapidly. New housing developments are being delivered across the borough. Regeneration projects are transforming neighbourhoods. The right Investment and balanced growth are both necessary and welcome. We need homes, jobs and opportunities for our growing population. But growth should never be viewed as an excuse to weaken environmental protections or diminish community assets.
“The real question is not whether Ealing should grow. The question is whether we are growing in a way that preserves what makes Ealing special.
“As a Green councillor, I have consistently argued that growth must be accompanied by rigorous environmental assessment, supported by evidence, long-term planning, and meaningful consultation. Prosperity and sustainability are not competing goals. In fact, the most successful places achieve both. We should be aiming for an Ealing that is economically successful, culturally ambitious and environmentally responsible.
“Unfortunately, recent decisions suggest that this balance is increasingly being overlooked. This concern is not based on any one decision. The examples below are simply two recent cases among many that have contributed to a growing perception that environmental stewardship is too often treated as a secondary consideration. Taken together, they raise important questions about the direction of travel for our borough.
“A clear example is the proposal for a temporary theatre in Walpole Park. At its meeting on 9 September 2026, Cabinet agreed in principle to grant a lease for a temporary theatre for three and a half years, arguing that it would test the viability of a future permanent theatre elsewhere in the borough while generating economic and cultural benefits. The Labour administration pointed to potential lease income, increased footfall for local businesses and future opportunities for theatre provision in Ealing.
“I support culture. I support investment. I support creating opportunities for residents. But I also believe that our parks and green spaces deserve more than to be treated as convenient locations for commercial projects.
“The Labour cabinet itself acknowledged that the purpose of the temporary theatre is to test the concept before pursuing a permanent theatre location in the borough. If the long-term objective is ultimately to establish a permanent theatre elsewhere, many residents are entitled to ask why one of Ealing’s most treasured parks is being used as the proving ground.
“This concern becomes even more significant when viewed through the lens of climate change. We are experiencing hotter summers, more extreme weather events and increasing pressure on urban green spaces. Green infrastructure is not a luxury. Parks help cool neighbourhoods, support biodiversity, improve air quality, absorb rainfall and provide opportunities for recreation and wellbeing. As our borough grows, these spaces become even more valuable.
“Questions have also been raised about West Middlesex Golf Course as key property decisions proceed before the site’s longer-term future has been determined. What is striking about this decision is that the site’s future use remains undecided. The Labour Cabinet’s position has been that decisions about the land’s longer-term future will come later. Yet the transaction itself is proceeding now. The council also noted that although objections had been received, none were considered sufficient to alter the proposed course of action.
“Many residents reasonably ask: if the future use of the site has not yet been determined, why are these significant property decisions being taken before that wider conversation with residents has concluded?
“These are not anti-development questions. They are not anti-growth questions. They are questions about stewardship, transparency and the protection of green public assets.
“Over recent months, the Green Group, led by Councillor Clare Welsby, has consistently raised questions about environmental impact, sustainability and long-term consequences during council meetings, cabinet, and committees.
“That is why I keep returning to a question I posed during Ealing Council’s debate on the Council Plan on 30 June 2026:
“Can we honestly say we are leaving a cleaner, greener borough to the next generation?”
“I asked that question because I believe it gets to the heart of the challenge facing Ealing today.
“The true test of any council plan, strategy or regeneration programme is not the number of announcements we make or initiatives we publish. The true test is whether residents can see and feel a positive difference in their daily lives. Are we creating healthier communities? Are we improving access to green space? Are we reducing environmental harm before it occurs? Are we leaving our borough in a better condition than we found it?
“As I argued during that debate, we need to move from reacting to problems towards preventing them. Prevention is often better for residents, better for the environment and better value for taxpayers. The same principle should guide environmental policy. Once green space is lost, it is rarely recovered. Once environmental damage occurs, restoring what has been lost is often far more expensive than protecting it in the first place.
“Ealing deserves the right growth. Ealing deserves the right investment. Ealing deserves good housing, strong local businesses and cultural opportunities. But Ealing also deserves leadership that understands that prosperity and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.
“The Queen of the Suburbs was built on a careful balance between development and green space, between ambition and stewardship. If we are serious about protecting that legacy, then environmental considerations must be embedded in decision-making from the very start, not added as an afterthought once key decisions have already been made.
“As Ealing grows, protecting green space becomes more important, not less. Every new housing development increases the importance of parks, trees and accessible open spaces for residents. Growth and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand if Ealing is to remain the Queen of the Suburbs for generations to come.
“I will continue to support sustainable growth while advocating for stronger environmental assessment and better protection of the spaces that make Ealing special. Because every major decision should be judged against one simple question:
“Can we honestly say we are leaving a cleaner, greener borough to the next generation?”
