The Ealing Liberal Democrats have slammed the Labour Party for attempting to remove the protection for several green spaces across the borough.

Ealing Council is proposing to open the door for building on some of the Borough's best-loved green fields and parks. As part of the Local Plan process, the Labour-run Council is proposing to remove Green Belt status from all the Green Belt land in the Borough and remove Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) status from nine sites across the borough. The Council's own report admits chillingly that they are "considering the possibility of Green Belt / MOL providing land for development".

The sites that the Council plans to stop protecting from development include Hanger Hill Park, the Barclays Sports Ground, Northala Fields, Acton Park, Belvue Park and the Trailfinders and Actonians rugby grounds.

Opposition Planning and Housing spokesperson Liberal Democrat Councillor Jon Ball said: "It is terrible hypocrisy for a Labour administration elected on a manifesto promising to create new parks and open spaces is now instead removing the protection our existing parks and open spaces have from being dug up for building schemes.

"I urge all residents who are concerned about our green spaces to respond to the Council's Local Plan consultation either by email to [email protected] or respond to the survey question on Policy G4 "What are your views on the development proposals on green open spaces?" with resounding opposition!"

"We need to preserve green spaces like Actonians in my ward that acts as a green lung next to the traffic of the North Circular and Northala Fields where I take my son at weekends. These areas should retain the protection that they currently enjoy. Development, including much-needed genuinely affordable housing, must be on brownfield sites."

Councillor Athena Zissimos, Lib Dem Councillor for Hanger Hill ward, in which a number of the open spaces earmarked for loss of protection lie added: "The Labour-led Council hardly blinked and gave planning permission for Twyford Abbey which was MOL to be built on, it is hard not to believe this is what the plans are for all the other green spaces in Hanger Hill, they will chip away at it all, until there is nothing left. A report put out by the Council in 2013 recognised that parts of Hanger Hill already did not have much green space."

Residents can object to the Local Plan by February 8th email to [email protected] or by completing a form or survey at https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201164/local_plan/3125/new_local_plan/3