Community Interest Company to take control of grounds and museum

A new management company has been incorporated to oversee the long-term development of Gunnersbury Park and Museum.

The 72-hectare park, which was originally purchased for the nation from the Rothchild's family, has been open to the public since 1926 and major restoration work is now underway, due to funding from the adjoining local authorities – Ealing and Hounslow – and from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Together, these organisations have been exploring what they believe to be the best arrangements for managing the estate and to secure its long-term success.

A 2014 review of the options recommended that a Community Interest Company (CIC) be established to take responsibility for the park and museum. A CIC provides allows the park to operate in a commercial manner, while at the same time maintaining accountability through the two councils currently managing Gunnersbury.

Councillor Ed Mayne, Hounslow Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Leisure, explains, “It's vitally important that we make sure that we support the investment that is being made in restoration with a management organisation that can successfully take it into the 21 st century.”

Ealing Council's leader, Councillor Julian Bell, said: “The future of the park will be more secure now, with decisions being made quicker allowing the park's potential to be maximised. The new management approach also means the park's funding will be protected from any changes in the budgets the council gets going forward and they can reinvest any surplus funds the park generates.”

The CIC is now beginning to recruit staff, starting with a curator, a public programme officer, a head gardener and two learning assistants.  Details are available on the group's new website at www.visitgunnersbury.org

September 12, 2015