Prevent the sale of school playing fields in London and beyond

Wandsworth Borough Council is pushing through, at breakneck speed, a proposal to sell 46% of the playing fields at Elliott School in Putney (15,070m² / 3.72 acres / 41% of the total site including buildings) for private redevelopment despite the school being a Grade II-listed building and despite a public consultation which showed 96% of respondents to be against any land sale.

Lord Hill of Oareford, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, has just given consent for these playing fields to be sold during the Olympics, despite the spirit of the law which protects them, despite their Grade II listing and irrespective of public opinion and statutory stakeholders. Unless challenged in the strongest terms, a devastating precedent is about to be set which will legitimise sale of public land in other boroughs and counties across the UK.

THIS IS THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE: all schools and all public land are seriously threatened by the lack of opposition to such proposals.

This is an opportunity to make a stand for green space, education, architecture and national heritage, public health, democracy, accountability, and, ultimately, sound stewardship of public assets and public income.

A full briefing pack is available on the campaign's website:
http://saveelliottschool.tumblr.com/

An e-petition to the Government to force debate in Parliament is here:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/34446
If you have signed THIS petition, PLEASE SIGN THE GOVT. E-PETITION TOO!

Questions welcome at [email protected]