A government minister this week condemned a "shroud of secrecy" blanketing controversial plans under consideration for new luxury houses on Gunnersbury Park.

Health Minister Ann Keen criticised proposals for developing a "significant acreage" of the park's south side, which emerged in confidential papers obtained by the Gazette.

And the Brentford and Isleworth MP slammed Ealing and Hounslow councils for allowing the new Gunnersbury Park Regeneration Board to meet behind closed doors.

She said: "Gunnersbury Park is a public space and it's absolutely ludicrous that the people of Brentford, Isleworth and Ealing are excluded from the decision-making process.

"The park has already lost out through the Tories' spending cuts and now we can't even monitor how the council plans to bring it up to scratch - if indeed it does."

Paperwork obtained by the Gazette identifies the likeli-hood of a £10 million shortfall in the park redevelopment fund, and suggests the "only alternative" is to build expensive houses similar to those in Kensington Palace Gardens.

Mrs Keen said: "I understand the possibility of building several luxury homes on the park has been mooted. Without the opportunity to see exactly what they're doing, I fear we will wake up one morning to find a sea of concrete on our park."

Ealing and Hounslow councils have historically shared responsibility for managing the park, but many of the buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair. The regeneration board was formed last year on the basis that it would help spur the park's recovery.

Ealing Civic Society member Mike Tiley said: "They should be much more public and open about what's going to happen.

"Most people would say keep the park as a park. If it comes down to the fact that the buildings are going to fall down I suppose we have to look at other options, but development should be the last option.

"It needs to be publicly and properly discussed to look at all the pros and cons - if that's honestly the only source of money, then let's talk about it."

A stakeholder group has been set up to involve residents and interested parties in the workings of the board.

Community services leader Phil Taylor said: "It is not the council's policy to allow development on Gunnersbury Park.

"The regeneration board is entitled to look at and discuss options about how to regenerate the park, but it will be the council, in conjunction with our counterparts in Hounslow, who will make the final decisions on these issues."