It is apparent that the Tory run Westminster council has more pressing priorities than that of those who live in its environs. In order to address issues relating to subsidence and as part of a grand plan to rejuvenate the gardens, they where closed in September 2008 and landscape consultants where appointed to come up with a new design for the gardens. Westmister Council published the plans for the gardens and then nothing more happened. According to information on their website:

It was hoped that the gardens would be reopened in time for the summer holidays 2009. However, there have been some planning issues around the relocation of the playgroup building that was previously in the park and this has delayed the project significantly. Unfortunately, the park will not be able to reopen in any capacity this summer. Discussions are ongoing but the majority of the park refurbishment can now move forward. It is likely that site works will begin at the end of the year for opening in spring 2010.

Spring 2010 is here and there has been no sight of any work or progress, instead residents are left with an unsightly green hoarding which does nothing for the area in which we are living. Boris Johnson refused earlier this year to provide any financial assistance for the development of these gardens (Westminster having spent the money elsewhere on other grand designs of course) so we are now left with a hole in the ground and no sight of anything happening in the immediate future.