Tories Dig In Heels On Open land

9.58.37am GMT Fri 14th Nov 2003

Vincent Cable MP with constituents at Marsh Farm Allotments

At Monday's Environment and Scrutiny Committee, despite pleas from residents, the Cabinet Member David Marlow stuck to his proposal to remove MOL designation from the Rifle Club site and most of the Mereway allotments.

Liberal Democrat members and 3 out of 4 of the community members felt the case for removing the designation had not been made.

Commented Lib Dem Councillor Martin Elengorn "This comes to the Council on 18th November and we will make a final attempt to make the Tories understand that a valuable area of rough grassland, which provides food and shelter to many species, will be lost, If we fail the matter passes to the UDP Inspector and I know that the residents' group FORCE will be making a very strong case to him to reject this loss of valuable green space."

Martin Elengorn, 020 8977 1187 or 020 7898 1741.