A TOWN council meeting in Knowsley heard that plans to get rid of 17 parks in the borough is "currently off the table".

However, confusion reigns over where the statement came from and Knowsley Council have said that no official decision regarding the future of the parks, including Brown's Field in Prescot, has been issued.

Plans have been met with fierce opposition from residents who marched to Knowsley Council's headquarters in April and handed in petitions.

A statement read out at a Halewood Town Council meeting last night said that the current plan to get rid of 17 parks is going to be ‘thoroughly reviewed’.

The announcement, which was read out by chair Norman Hogg, read: “The current proposals to establish Knowsley Parks Trust and to sell 17 identified sites for future development over the next 15 years is to be thoroughly reviewed.

“As such the current proposal is off the table – future work by Knowsley Council in respect of finding a suitable solution for the management of parks and open spaces will include further consultation by Knowsley Council included with all town and parish councils in Knowsley and the community and all other stakeholders.”

However a councillor who is set to be deputy leader of the authority said no decisions on the parks plan will be made until a review is completed.

Councillor Sean Donnelly, ward member for Whitefield, said: “I have not had a conversation with or issued a statement to Norman Hogg.

“To be clear, the Business Case for the parks and green spaces proposal is being reviewed – nothing has changed with this regard as this process has been on-going for some time.

“No decisions have or will be made until the review of the Business Case has concluded.”

The latest twist in the battle over the borough’s parks comes after former council leader Andy Moorhead was ousted at a Labour group meeting on Tuesday following disappointing local election results for the party in Knowsley.

Members of the Labour group chose to replace councillor Moorhead with councillor Graham Morgan, with councillor Donnelly chosen as deputy leader.

Their positions are set to be confirmed at the council’s annual general meeting next Friday.

Labour lost two seats at last week’s elections, with cabinet member Gary See losing his Halewood South seat to independent Allan Harvey and Green councillor Kai Taylor also taking a Prescot South seat from the party.

The full list of parks that are earmarked to be sold off under the current plans are:

– Part of Alt Park

– Broad Lane Playing Fields

– Copthorne (adjacent community centre not included)

– Court Hey Park

– Cowper Way

– Field Lane

– Finch Wood

– Frederick Lunt Playing Fields

– Grace Park

– Part of Halewood Doorstep Green

– King George V Playing Fields in Prescot (widely known as Browns Field)

– Pool Hey Playing Fields

– Roby Playing Fields (adjacent community centre not included)

– St John’s Millennium Green

– Spring Wood