Alice Roberts Green Spaces Officer at CPRE London said: “We’re extremely concerned that councils feel forced to sell off land because of a short term funding crisis. What does this say about how we value green space in the capital? Even in areas with massive pressure for housing or new schools, communities are fighting to save green spaces – so for local residents to see green space sold simply to keep the council afloat is hugely frustrating for them.

“Centrally imposed targets and cuts are having a massive impact on London residents’ ability to control development in their area. Their local councillors and even the London Mayor are increasingly in a bind, forced into a corner and dictated to by central government.”

Ms Roberts continued: “Londoners don’t need or want to be told how to run their lives by David Cameron or George Osborne. They want locally elected officials and a Mayor able respond to their concerns.”

CPRE London has raised particular concerns about the four sites, particularly that two of them are recreation grounds and that it’s likely that three out of four currently contribute to local flood mitigation.”

The Council has not yet to consult on the remaining 22 sites it has proposed for sale.

Notes:

[1] Our response can be found here: http://www.cprelondon.org.uk/resources/item/2309-disposal-of-green-spaces-in-bexley

[2] See “Are we set to sell the family silver?” 19 November 2015, and online at http://www.bexleytimes.co.uk/news/bexley_council_chiefs_reveal_first_four_open_spaces_to_be_sold_off_as_authority_attempts_to_balance_the_books_1_4315939