Popular strength of feeling against plans to build flats at Hendon Football Club has forced Barnet Council to reconsider whether it should sell-off the site.

Objections from more than 2,000 residents prompted councillors at an all-party cabinet scrutiny meeting last week (July 26) to ask the council's cabinet to think again about the plan to sell the ground in Claremont Road, Cricklewood. It was due for consideration at a planning meeting two days later, but Tory cabinet members decided to withdraw the application until they have reconsidered the land sale at a cabinet meeting in September.

Councillor Alison Moore, the deputy Labour leader who sits on the scrutiny committee, said it was important not to surrender lightly the site's protection against development, including its status as Metropolitan Open Lane (MOL).

"Part of the proposed development on Hendon FC is to agree to remove the covenants to protect the land in perpetuity for use as sport and leisure facilities. There has clearly been a lot of public feeling about this potential activity, so we called it in principally because we were concerned about the removal of the covenant and the vulnerability of the neighbouring Clitterhouse Fields, as once you have removed a covenant, MOL is not sacrosanct."

Ms Moore said she was also concerned about the site being developed in isolation from over-arching long-term plans to regenerate the entire area, compounded with the lack of consultation with residents.

"I think the cabinet should reconsider the issue of the covenant and consult with the people. I would welcome anything that allows them to have a proper say," she said. "This is a great victory for the people."

Dorothy Badrick, a veteran campaigner on the issue, said she was 'delighted' the decision to sell the land has been called in.

Ms Badrick, of Cotswold Gardens, Cricklewood, said: "Everybody, including Conservative councillors, seem to be coming round to the idea that this is a discredited scheme.

They can't do anything profitable on the site without breaking planning guidelines, which is something I have checked with Planning Aid for London, and it would take a long time for them to try and get the covenants lifted.

We had 2,000 signatures on a petition against it, and I'm delighted that so far public opinion has prevailed."

Tory councillor Mike Freer, cabinet member for best value, said any plans to develop the site had been put on hold until the question of whether or not the site should be sold in the first place had been decided at the next cabinet meeting in September.