Safety first as new boundary fencing installed at West Hounslow church

A £3,100 donation from Grundon Waste Management has enabled the installation of a new boundary fence to help keep children safe at The Church of the Good Shepherd in Hounslow West.

The fence separates the church car park from the busy A30 road and, as the previous wire fence and concrete posts had been broken down over the years, there were concerns about both safety and its appearance.

Graham Neilson, voluntary Buildings Manager at St Paul’s Church and the Church of the Good Shepherd, said: “In normal times the church holds many community activities, including mother and toddler groups and ballet classes in the church hall. With the road being so close to the car park, we were worried about the safety of children getting out of cars.

“We do a lot of work in the community, but as a fairly poor ward which relies on grant donations, we could never have afforded the new fencing ourselves and we are very grateful to Grundon and to Groundwork South for the help they have been able to give us. The new fence has made a big difference and looks very smart too.”

The project was funded by Grundon through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), which helps local community and environmental projects, and is managed by the environmental charity Groundwork South.

Anthony Foxlee-Brown, Grundon’s Head of Marketing and Communications, said: “The A30 is one of the main routes for our drivers on their daily waste collections and The Church of the Good Shepherd is a well-known landmark.

“To know that we have supported making the area safer for all the families who use the church facilities is something we are very proud to have been able to do.”

Ollie Kelly, Green Infrastructure and Landscape Advisor at Groundwork South, who oversaw the funding project, said: “We were delighted to facilitate the funding for the new fencing at the church car park, as we could see what an improvement it would make to the families and visitors who attend events there. It now looks very smart and has made a real difference to the area.”

In 2016, Grundon provided funding to help restore the clock at nearby sister church St Paul’s in Bath Road, Hounslow. The clock had been silent for more than 20 years and required specialist restoration to bring it back to life. Five years on, Graham says it is still keeping excellent time and is a much-loved landmark in the neighbourhood.