What consultation has there been so far and is any more planned in the future?

Local opinion has been sought throughout the process in a variety of ways, including five surveys, two public exhibitions and two workshops.   

The Chiswick Friends as the main interest group for the House and Gardens represent an important source of advice and guidance for us. They have already held their own process of consultation with their members, and we will work with their representatives to shape the future development of this important site.

During consultation in 2003/2004, a number of key aspirations and objectives emerged which underpin the project:

• To ensure that people’s perceptions and experience of Chiswick House & Gardens better reflect its iconic status
• To restore the physical fabric of the buildings, structures, landscape and ecology
• To transform the horticultural management of the grounds from being ‘maintained’ to being proactively ‘gardened’ and cared for
• To provide a good quantity and quality of visitor facilities that local people feel proud of
• To provide a sense of arrival and welcome, encouraging access for all
• To fulfil the site’s educational and cultural potential
• To establish one management organisation with responsibility for House and Gardens, committed to involving the community in the ongoing development of the site

Initial results from a recent local survey show that:

• 73% of respondents wanted to see the important historic parts of the gardens restored
• 70% of respondents support the provision of a new and improved café
• 77% of respondents wanted to see the house and gardens being financially sustainable through a range of corporate and public events, with profits going back into the house and gardens
• 62.5% of respondents wanted free access for dogs across the park while 56.5% wanted to see restrictions in designated areas

Consultation on the current proposals  will carry on for the next few months, and this process will continue for the duration of the project. An agreement in principle from the HLF to fund the project would signal the start of the detailed design of the plans. So this is a good opportunity to make your views known and we hope that you will. Your feedback will help us to develop our proposals.

An exhibition, outlining the plans is on display in the Conservatory at Chiswick House and in the Chiswick Town Hall until January 12 2006. A book version of the exhibition boards will be available to view at Chiswick Public Library, together with a copy of the Stage 1 Bid document submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Use the questionnaire at the top of this page to give us your views when you have considered the proposals.

The Chiswick House Friends are pleased to announce the result of the recent questionnaire on the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund which was sent to Members in the Autumn 2005 Newsletter. Access the results at www.chfriends.org.uk.