PLANS to sell-off much-loved community playing fields in East Finchley have been unveiled by Barnet Council.

Derelict Stanley Road playing fields look set to be disposed of by the council in a bid to raise much needed cash to plug a funding gap in their accounts.

The proposal, revealed in the cabinet's forward plan for decisions to be taken, says members of the cabinet resources committee should “agree to declare the freehold interest in the land surplus to requirement, the land be marketed and disposed”.

Residents and sports clubs in the area have been campaigning for years to have the ground in renovated and reopened for public use.

In September former professional cricketer Steven Sellwood put forward plans with the Finchley Development Trust for a multi-use sports centre.

He said: “This doesn't come as a surprise to me. I wasn't necessarily expecting it next week or next month but it's clear the council hasn't been showing it a lot of love in recent years.

“It's a piece of land which is crying out for someone to come in and do something with it. We are looking at it and are interested in Stanley road along with a number of other sites.”

Rob Robertson, of the development trust, said the group would be looking to put the fine details of their scheme together as soon as possible, but was confident they could be successful.

He told the Times Series: “Our scheme does tick a lot of boxes for the council, it is keeping it for sport and recreation and for community use.

“One sticking point could be the money they want for it, but as far as we're aware there are no other plans in at the moment for it. Planners are always reluctant to build houses on sites traditionally used for sport.

“We will be looking to engage with council officers as soon as possible.”

Barnet Labour leader and East Finchley councillor Alison Moore urged the council to keep it as a sport and recreational site for residents.

She said: “Local residents, supported by their three East Finchley Labour councillors, have been campaigning for years to make sure this open space is retained for youth and community use.

“East Finchley has few accessible green and open spaces but lots of blocks of flats, so to lose this site to developers would be a tragedy. “I’m very surprised local councillors and the residents’ group that has been in discussions with the council have not been consulted about the decision to sell-off the land, but then again the Barnet Tories really don’t seem to want to listen to what local people have to say.”

A statement from Barnet Council said the item would be put before the committee on November 30 to "allow the council to fully consider potential opportunities.”