Campaigners call on Angela Rayner to stop the sell-off of England’s parks

Campaigners have asked Angela Rayner to intervene after the Court of Appeal ruled that councils can sell off parks

Since 2021, local residents in Enfield, North London, have been fighting to stop their council selling over half of Whitewebbs Park to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, who want to expand their training grounds. Local pensioner Sean Wilkinson challenged Enfield Council in the courts, believing the public has rights to use the park – rights protected in law. But last month the Court of Appeal confirmed campaigners’ worst fears, that parks have no such protection and councils are free to sell them.

The Public Interest Law Centre, which has supported Sean, have now written to Angela Rayner, on behalf of CPRE London and the Friends of Whitewebbs Park, asking her to intervene. They say the Secretary of State has the power to protect parks despite the court’s decision – and that the process of “calling in” the decision will ensure the important issue of the privatisation of public parks and open spaces can be considered at a national level with the benefit of a public inquiry.

Campaigners say the Government could set clear protections for public parks and this is an opportunity to state they must remain preserved for public use.

The court decision confirmed there are no effective legal protections local residents can rely on to protect their local parks from sale, and this effectively reverses a powerful movement in the C19th and C20th centuries to protect open spaces for public benefit and use. Mr Wilkinson said: “It is particularly saddening this has been achieved with the active assistance of a council committed to tackling the nature and climate crises, and enabling a healthy lifestyle for all.”

Alice Roberts of CPRE London said: “If this can happen to Whitewebbs Park, it can happen anywhere. It can happen to your local park, playground or playing field. We’re working with many resident groups facing similar challenges and we will continue to campaign alongside the residents of Enfield to save Whitewebbs Park.”