Knowsley Council's controversial plans to sell off 10 per cent of parks to go ahead

Cabinet members agreed unanimously that the scheme go ahead after being asked to reconsider by the Sustainable Boroughs Scrutiny Committee in December.

The ‘Shaping a New Future for Knowsley’s Parks’ report was agreed by Cabinet on November 28, but was called in for further consideration by the Scrutiny Committee, which made some recommendations following their meeting on December 19.

The cabinet considered each of the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Committee in turn before voting again on the proposals on Tuesday evening (January 9).

A charitable trust will be established to manage green spaces in the borough from April 2019, when council funding for the service runs out.

The trust will be funded by the sale of 10 per cent of the borough’s green spaces over the next 15 years. This will create a £40 million endowment, the interest from which would be used to manage and maintain the remaining 90 per cent permanently, says the council.

Among the green spaces to be surrendered in the move is King George V Playing Fields in Prescot.

In its rationale for the decision, Knowsley Council said :"A new green space , including new play provision and a cycle link into Stadt Moers Park, will be created at Prescot Park, which is within 800 metres". 

Details of the sites to be surrendered were put forward at the cabinet meeting in November and work will now begin on developing a business case.

An outline business case will be considered by Scrutiny in the summer before a final decision is made on the full business case by cabinet late this year.

Leader of Knowsley Council, Andy Moorhead said: “We know that our proposals for the future management of parks and green spaces are a big decision for the borough and one that we must get right.

“As a cabinet, we’re only too well aware that taking no action to protect our parks and green spaces is not an option. With funding running out from April next year we have a responsibility to think creatively to ensure future generations are still able to enjoy quality open spaces as we do."

Cllr Moorhead added: “This is not a decision we have come to lightly – and it was not a decision we made alone. The recommendations we’ve agreed were put forward following extensive consultation and research by the independent Parks Review Board who were asked to find the best solution. This is about protecting parks, not taking them away.

“Now that the decision has also been through the Scrutiny process I’m even more confident that we’re on the right track. Work will now get underway to develop the full business case which will be back before Cabinet later this year.”