‘Vile’ racist graffiti and swastikas at West London leisure centre building site condemned

Several swastikas and racist language have been graffitied across the site

Ealing Council has condemned racist graffiti spray painted across the hoardings surrounding the Gurnell Leisure Centre building site in Perivale. The graffiti was spotted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service [LDRS] whilst visiting the area on Monday (June 8). Some of the graffiti included lines such as “f**k Jews” and “f*** n******.”

There were also at least five swastikas painted across the green boarding around the building site. The council has urged anyone who knows who may have committed the crime to contact the Metropolitan Police.

Councillor Lauren Wall, Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities said: “The council condemns the vile racist graffiti and we are working to get the hoarding cleared immediately. We urge anyone with any knowledge of who committed the crime to contact the police.

“Building a new leisure centre at Gurnell is a priority for the council. We started work on the site in March and are pleased with the progress that has been made. A report on the works that have been carried out to prepare the site for the leisure centre, and a timeline for the rest of the project, will be presented to cabinet in the autumn.”

Cllr Gary Malcolm, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition said: “Liberal Democrats for many years have said that people want to see a leisure centre built and it is very upsetting for many that so much time has been wasted and the land has been left to rack and ruin. Labour should hang their heads in shame and get on with providing a leisure centre that people can use.”

The demolition of Gurnell Leisure Centre began in March 2025 and was completed in June 2025. A new facility is scheduled to open towards the end of 2027.

The council is also in the process of tendering for a developer partner to bring forward the residential site at Gurnell.

Around 300 new homes have outline planning permission to be built on the site, with around a third of these earmarked for affordable housing.

The new complex will include a 50-metre Olympic-sized swimming pool, fitness studios and a climbing wall. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a water park with slides and a lazy river.

The centre itself will be one of the UK’s first all-electric leisure centres, using 81 per cent less energy than its former self. The £125 million project is due to be completed by the end of 2027.

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