I discussed this at length with the park ranger. This is a gorgeous secluded little park/playground, not widely known about because it is set back and not immediately obvious from the street. You either know about it or you dont. As a result it has been used in the past for various illegal activities like drug dealing beacause it is quiet and off the beaten track. This was a couple of years ago, more recently I dont think its been a problem and despite being regularly patrolled by the police, people are easily scared, particularly where their children are involved, and avoid it. i take my kids here regularly and have never seen anything untoward going on. Unfortunately though this suffers the same problem as Acton High St to a degree, its reputation is hard to shake off, but if people dont go there it will never change. Of course a CCTV camera could be installed in the park, but that is costly and unlikely to happen when cuts are the order of the day. Its also avoidable, because if parents took their kids there and it was busier it would no longer be attractive to the criminals. I take my kids to Acton library because its nearer than Ealing, we can walk there. Do I feel safe? Yes, otherwise I wouldnt take my kids there. Maybe I'm naive but I dont assume the worst, I dont think everyone on the High St is out to rob or stab me and as usual the minority are scaring off the majority. If we stood up for ourselves, our community and our High St, instead of running scared to 'leafy Chiswick' maybe things would start to change around here, and the 'right sort' of businesses would consider Acton a viable proposition?
Milena Vincic ● 5894d