Redbridge Liberal Democrats slam secret Tory plans

7.38.02pm GMT Thu 8th Feb 2007

Redbridge Liberal Democrats slam secret Tory plans to sell off allotments, car parks and other council assets.

The Tory Administration running Redbridge want to spend£150 million they don't have on a series of building projects over the next 6 years. A small committee,called the Land Sales Committee meeting in secret is drawing up a list of sales.

The Liberal Democrat group on Redbridge Council condemned both the secret process and proposed sale of important open spaces and car parks. All four car parks to the west of the Central Line have now been earmarked for sale. Yet no public consultation has taken place on the principle and all councillors are prevented from raising matters because the Tory majority have ruled all matters confidential until after decisions are taken

Speaking at a closed session of Redbridge Council Lib Dem Leader Cllr Hugh Cleaver condemned the Tory Administration. He said "Any 'consultation' the Council comes up with now, will be how the sale will be handled, not whether the sale of car parks like the one at Derby Road should be sold.

Roding Ward's Lib Dem Councillor Ian Bond said " Given the cabinet's desperation to sell off theses car parks wouldn't it be more honest if their Land Sales Advisory panel was renamed the' everything must go committee?"

Church End Ward Cllr Richard Hoskins condemned The Tory Administration's hypocrisy in deciding to sell off sites to developers while claiming they opposed the Government and Lord Mayor' s call for more flats in the borough. He said "We see a procession of Tory Councillors wringing their hands over the number of flats being built in the area. Yet at the same time they are now planning to sell off council land to enable developers to build even homes on what are now council owned open spaces.