Opposition as council plan to sell off assets

The Royal Borough of Greenwich have come under fire as plans to sell off Greenwich’s equestrian centre and another building in Shooters Hill have come to light.

The centre in Shooters Hill closed earlier this year, with a petition to save the space receiving over 800 signatures.

It was built in 2013, to deliver a legacy from the equestrian events of the 2012 Olympic Games. The project cost £1.6 million to deliver through a joint venture between multiple investors – including Hadlow College, the council and the British Equestrian Federation.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich cabinet agreed to sell the site at a meeting on Tuesday. 

Another building in Shooters Hill has also been earmarked for disposal by the authority.

The site at 28 Mereworth Drive, known locally as Green Garth, has also been listed for disposal via an agent.

The board of trustees at the neighbouring Shrewsbury House Community Centre, which share the same site as Green Garth, say they are shocked to learn of the council's decision and we're not consulted.

Sally MacDougal, Chair of the SHCA Board of Trustees says that there appears to have been no discussion of the proposal other than within a small group of senior council officers.

"In fact the Board is on record over a number of years as wishing to enter meaningful discussions with the Royal Borough of Greenwich regarding reuniting the listed area of Shrewsbury House under a single management in order to facilitate an effective heritage and environmental management plan and to promote the viability of Shrewsbury House Community Association as a charitable business.

"Our most recent interactions with RBG Council Officers involved discussion of a fully commercial lease, which we regard as unrealistic for a charitable organisation rooted in the local community such as Shrewsbury House Community Association.

"RBG Officers also asked us to prepare a business case for a peppercorn rent for the site, leading us to believe the Council was prepared to consider a community use for 28 Mereworth Drive.

"We are seriously concerned that members of Cabinet were not given this materially important information before it made its decision.

"Neither was Cabinet told that over one thousand people have demonstrated their engagement with Shrewsbury House and its plans for a sustainable, community based future for the site, by signing a petition in support of our plan to create an environmentally friendly community garden at Mereworth Drive.

"We are also in discussion with a potential third sector partner with regard to bringing the Mereworth Drive building back into public use.

"The Board regrets that this information was not placed before Cabinet when it made its decision."

It is believed that it is likely the decision to dispose of 28 Mereworth Drive will now be called in under the Royal Borough of Greenwich's procedures for scrutiny and transparency, a move welcomed by the trustees.

The two properties were brought forward for consideration following a wider list of council-owned assets being agreed for sale last month to bridge a projected budget gap of £27m next year.