{"id":6739,"date":"2024-01-03T15:17:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T15:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/?p=6739"},"modified":"2024-01-09T17:32:03","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T17:32:03","slug":"weak-front-garden-regulations-make-flooding-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/weak-front-garden-regulations-make-flooding-worse\/","title":{"rendered":"Weak front garden regulations make flooding worse"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6739\" class=\"elementor elementor-6739\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-625e5d14 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"625e5d14\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52ab0413\" data-id=\"52ab0413\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e887fbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e887fbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 1995, the Conservative government under John Major designated pavement crossovers as \u2018permitted development\u2019. This fired the starting gun on the conversion of the nation\u2019s front gardens to car parks.<br \/>Nearly 30 years on, the consequences of this are all too apparent. In Ealing, as in most other London boroughs and urban and suburban areas throughout the country, there are roads where all the front gardens have been paved over. As well as effectively widening the road by two or three times, this transformation has had many damaging consequences (as explained in: <a href=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/greening-front-gardens\">Greening Front Gardens<\/a>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3cb3c1e5\" data-id=\"3cb3c1e5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-726ce4c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"726ce4c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"637\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo1_HLS_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6744\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo1_HLS_s.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo1_HLS_s-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo1_HLS_s-768x489.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A large hard-surfaced front garden with no greenery at all - the grille soakaway makes it entirely legal.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-729d18bc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"729d18bc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77026dc2\" data-id=\"77026dc2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6598a615 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6598a615\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From the start, these consequences quickly became apparent, yet nothing has been done. The only concession to the numerous problems caused is some additional regulation about flood risk introduced in 2008 for England (see below).<\/p><p>So there\u2019s still nothing to stop the whole front garden being paved or concreted over. And now, that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening. Even people who parked in their front garden but had some greenery before are now putting in blanket hard surfacing and removing every hedge and flower bed.<\/p><p>Often, this is so they can home-charge their electric vehicles, which has a lower VAT rate than on-street charging. Perceived ease of maintenance and persuasive deals and special offers from paving contractors and manufacturers also play a part.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-62895979 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"62895979\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f3861e1\" data-id=\"f3861e1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1331a229 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1331a229\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo2_RG_Mag2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6823\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo2_RG_Mag2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo2_RG_Mag2-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo2_RG_Mag2-768x481.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Six months after this permeable paving was installed, moss, debris and weeds are already present.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ae621fa\" data-id=\"2ae621fa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a7223b6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a7223b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 2008, after serious flooding in some English cities in 2007, additional regulations were rushed through under Gordon Brown\u2019s Labour administration.\n\nThese regulations say the parking surface must either be porous or have a soakaway area. They\u2019re intended to prevent rain running straight off the front garden, into the road drains and thence to the sewers which, if overloaded, leads to serious and unpleasant flooding of houses and businesses over a wide area.\n\nAre these regulations working?\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-65cb37e5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"65cb37e5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-458c4e91\" data-id=\"458c4e91\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26155f1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26155f1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Not well, according to our observations. They\u2019re quite often disregarded. But even if followed, the two options usually offered by contractors, \u201cpermeable\u201d paving or a soakaway device, can fail in the increasingly heavy downpours we\u2019re now getting.<\/p><p>\u201cPermeable\u201d paving is a popular and heavily-promoted option. It\u2019s precast concrete blocks, made to look like stone or brick, but with edges designed to create small gaps between each block. The gaps are intended to let rain percolate into the substrate and soil below. But, even if correctly installed, the gaps get blocked quite quickly with debris.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68c45bc7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68c45bc7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7776ba90\" data-id=\"7776ba90\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-198855d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"198855d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-38feb05e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"38feb05e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5804d24c\" data-id=\"5804d24c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47e2dd79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47e2dd79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It doesn\u2019t take long for moss spores, weed seeds, atmospheric dust and the leaves, twigs, flower and seed casings from street trees to find their way into the cracks. They\u2019re blown and washed in by wind and rain, and pressed in by footfall and vehicles. This accumulated debris begins to slow the drainage and hold water, creating the perfect seed bed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-19abbb9e elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19abbb9e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-51cb4c04\" data-id=\"51cb4c04\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-142b9d50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"142b9d50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Weeds and moss excel at growing fast so it\u2019s not long, even if the surface is swept regularly as recommended, before they make their presence felt. Householders may then use weedkiller, weed-killing sand , pressure hosing, physical removal, or even blocking the gaps with mortar. But without assiduous maintenance it\u2019s a losing battle, so many people just let nature take its course, with an occasional sweep over or hose down to slow the process and look reasonably presentable \u2013 for a while.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a7ee57a\" data-id=\"4a7ee57a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-744ba3d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"744ba3d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"484\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo3_WR_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6776\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo3_WR_s.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo3_WR_s-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo3_WR_s-768x372.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A garden entirely covered with permeable paving: weeds, moss and debris accumulate between the gaps.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-370907a8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"370907a8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7b95c17f\" data-id=\"7b95c17f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eaaf7db elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"eaaf7db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7ea9e280 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7ea9e280\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7671735\" data-id=\"7671735\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5de5b116 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5de5b116\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo4_BW_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6798\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo4_BW_s.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo4_BW_s-269x300.jpg 269w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-21e957d1\" data-id=\"21e957d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-663dbd70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"663dbd70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The end result is that after a period, which can be several years but can be much less, the permeability of this kind of paving is reduced so much that it just can\u2019t absorb prolonged or heavy rain effectively.<\/p><p>The manufacturers may claim that accumulated debris slows but doesn\u2019t stop rain soaking away. Maybe so in large, flat places like car parks. But in suburban front gardens, especially if sloping and with trees close by, much of the \u201cpermeable\u201d paving put in since 2008 is just getting too blocked to cope with sudden heavy rain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-36b0855 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"36b0855\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c5af6a7\" data-id=\"7c5af6a7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f9d6f64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3f9d6f64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3c433318 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3c433318\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-410b3037\" data-id=\"410b3037\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73c0f716 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"73c0f716\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3de85217 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3de85217\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e15beef\" data-id=\"e15beef\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7bcc8a8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7bcc8a8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The second main option contractors offer is various types of sealed or concreted bricks and pavers or resin-bonded surfaces combined with a soakaway area. These impermeable surfaces are attractive because there are no gaps for weeds to grow, so they offer a neat and stylish look, provide a good parking surface and need virtually no maintenance.<\/p><p>But their Achille\u2019s heel is the soakaway which should be put in stop rain running off onto the pavement. It can be an accessible flower bed, but often contractors offer a soil soakaway area covered by a grille, or narrow gap, usually between the front garden and the pavement.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-64f38e1b\" data-id=\"64f38e1b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eabf6c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"eabf6c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"742\" height=\"338\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo5_RR_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6802\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo5_RR_s.jpg 742w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo5_RR_s-300x137.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Garden completely covered in sealed paving, with drainage grille at pavement edge.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59c57ba0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59c57ba0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ff4c9fb\" data-id=\"6ff4c9fb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-539cf167 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"539cf167\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-27474f0c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27474f0c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b17d2d3\" data-id=\"b17d2d3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19fd4ad2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"19fd4ad2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"362\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo6_PL_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6806\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo6_PL_s.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo6_PL_s-300x109.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo6_PL_s-768x278.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Bricked over front garden with leaves and debris accumulating around the drainage grille.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-23d4df75\" data-id=\"23d4df75\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-790b2d85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"790b2d85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Even if grilles and gaps are put in correctly, do they work, especially in the torrential downpours we\u2019re getting due to climate change? Often, not well.<\/p><p>This is mainly because, perhaps contrary to householder\u2019s expectations, they do actually need to be maintained! As with \u201cpermeable\u201d paving, it doesn\u2019t take long for moss spores, weed seeds, atmospheric dust and falling leaves, twigs, flower and seed casings from street trees to accumulate in the soakaway area. They\u2019re blown and washed in by wind and rain, pressed in by footfall and vehicles which break up the dry leaves, twigs and casings, and even swept in by householders trying to keep the surface looking presentable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-198de5f4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"198de5f4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4209e27\" data-id=\"4209e27\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39940ba3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"39940ba3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6ff22482 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6ff22482\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6794ff4b\" data-id=\"6794ff4b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6995ef9c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6995ef9c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This accumulated debris begins to block the soakaway, and of course gets wet, again creating the perfect growing medium. So it\u2019s not long before the grille or gap becomes noticeably blocked.<\/p><p>This is when the householder should lift the grilles or gap structure and clear out the accumulated debris. But few actually do this. So it doesn\u2019t take long for an unmaintained grille or gap to become more or less completely blocked. That means that all but the lightest rain just can\u2019t flow into it any more, so flows over it instead.<\/p><p>And even if the soakaway is kept reasonably clear, it may not be able to cope with the really heavy downpours we\u2019re increasingly experiencing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d05876f\" data-id=\"3d05876f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-784326b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"784326b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo7_AR_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6810\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo7_AR_s.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo7_AR_s-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo7_AR_s-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A weed and moss-filled grille soakaway next to sealed paving.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1b18b547 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1b18b547\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53508229\" data-id=\"53508229\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66975e14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"66975e14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-32faf091 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"32faf091\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-17d5a3a8\" data-id=\"17d5a3a8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bd3dbaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6bd3dbaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"548\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo8_CR_s.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6742\" alt=\"Overflowing Grill\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo8_CR_s.jpg 548w, https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Photo8_CR_s-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Rain running off an impermeably-paved garden, overtopping the soakaway.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5dc1f512\" data-id=\"5dc1f512\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f030a1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f030a1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>From here it\u2019s a short step to local surface water flooding, more pressure on local drains and sewers, leading to sewage discharges plus more herbicides, microplastics and other pollutants entering local rivers, waterways and groundwaters.<\/p><p>The Government and local authorities need to recognise these realities, as well as the many other reasons why extensive paving in front gardens is making the effects of climate change worse and adding to the poor state of nature in the UK. The weak, inadequate 2008 regulations need to be changed rapidly.<\/p><p>The parking surface should be the minimum necessary and of matrix construction, so that plants can grow in it and there is direct contact between rain and soil. The rest of the garden should be green, and the only hard surfacing the path to the front door.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40949291 elementor-align-justify elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-tablet-align-justify elementor-mobile-align-justify elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"40949291\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/frontgardens.nationalparkcity.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Ealing Front Gardens Project<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1237adad elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1237adad\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-wider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6578004e\" data-id=\"6578004e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab561 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab561\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Photos taken within Ealing Borough.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1995, the Conservative government under John Major designated pavement crossovers as \u2018permitted development\u2019. This fired the starting gun on the conversion of the nation\u2019s front gardens to car parks.Nearly 30 years on, the consequences of this are all too apparent. In Ealing, as in most other London boroughs and urban and suburban areas throughout [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":6742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6739"}],"version-history":[{"count":86,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6838,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6739\/revisions\/6838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ealingfoe.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}