Greenwich Council Faces Backlash Over Equestrian Centre Sale
Greenwich Council stands accused of deliberately ignoring a community-led campaign to purchase and preserve the Greenwich Equestrian Centre. The Save Greenwich Equestrian Community group has launched scathing criticism against the local authority, claiming it is refusing to engage in discussions about a potential sale despite presenting a comprehensive, fully-funded solution.
Council Defends Asset Sale Amid Financial Pressures
Council leader Anthony Okereke has defended the decision to sell the equestrian facility, stating that the council has made "tough decisions" to sell some assets to maintain financial stability. The council originally agreed to sell the centre in November 2024 to address growing budget deficits, a move that has sparked significant community opposition.
The Equestrian Skills Centre, which opened in 2013 as part of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy project, cost £1.6 million to develop and includes stables for 20 horses along with sophisticated riding facilities. When the sale was announced, local businesswoman and centre user Tao Baker initiated a campaign to save the facility, fearing it could be permanently lost if sold on the open market.
Campaigners Detail Broken Promises and Exclusion
Ms Baker addressed a full Greenwich Council meeting on March 18, accusing the authority of failing to represent its residents' interests. She revealed that the Save Greenwich Equestrian Community group had repeatedly requested formal meetings with council representatives since the sale announcement, with the first meeting finally occurring nearly a year later in October.
"The council made a clear commitment to explore a community asset transfer with Sports England and with the community during that October meeting," Ms Baker stated. "However, this commitment has since been broken as no further meetings have taken place, despite our numerous requests."
She confirmed that the council had informed her in writing two weeks ago that it would not conduct any additional meetings with the campaign group. "Why won't this council meet with its own community?" she questioned. "This is not a delay. This is not a process. This is a decision, a decision not to engage, a decision not to meet, and a decision to exclude your community."
Comprehensive Proposal Backed by National Organizations
Ms Baker emphasized that her campaign has developed a "robust, fully developed, multi-purpose proposal that supports mental health and wellbeing, creates real career pathways for young people and adults, and delivers for SEND and neurodiverse residents while meeting every policy this council has."
The proposal has received backing from both Sport England and the British Horse Society. Importantly, the campaign is not seeking financial support from the council but rather the opportunity to purchase the centre using funds raised through community fundraising efforts.
"Where is the openness? Where is the accountability? Where is the leadership?" Ms Baker challenged. "And where is the selflessness that states you must act for the community? Because right now 3,589 residents are being ignored. A fully-funded solution is being ignored. National sporting bodies are being ignored, and a community you are responsible for serving is being ignored."
Political Fallout and Council Defiance
Greenwich's opposition leader Matt Hartley condemned how residents have been treated "appallingly throughout this entire process," criticizing the cabinet for agreeing to sell the centre without proper discussion in less than a minute during the November 2024 meeting.
The Conservative councillor also referenced former Greenwich council member Ivis Williams, who faced disciplinary investigation by Greenwich Labour for speaking out against the centre sale. She resigned as a Labour councillor in May 2025, citing "significant challenges and undue stress in the course of fulfilling my duties and advocating for the interest of my residents and my community." Cllr Hartley described her departure from the council as "shameful."
Cllr Okereke countered that he didn't "share the view" of Ms Baker, asserting that council representatives had met with her at the centre to discuss the proposal. He maintained that asset disposals like the equestrian centre are necessary for the council to remain "financially viable" following what he described as government defunding.
"We are the council that has kept libraries open, has kept a functioning youth service going and is investing in it," Cllr Okereke stated. "A council that set up nine wellbeing hubs for children and young people in our borough, trying our very best to make sure we change their outcomes."
He criticized previous Conservative governments for reducing funding to Greenwich Council and instructing the authority that it must "sell its assets to survive." He accused Greenwich Conservatives of objecting "to our very survival as a local authority when we are trying to provide excellent services for our residents."
Cllr Okereke concluded that his council had made "tough decisions" to sell assets such as the Equestrian Centre to continue providing essential universal services, including adult social care. "Those hard and tough decisions that we have made are continuing to deliver for the residents of this fantastic borough," he affirmed.
The community petition to save the Greenwich Equestrian Centre has garnered nearly 3,600 signatures, reflecting substantial public support for preserving this Olympic Legacy facility. The standoff between campaigners and council leadership continues as the future of the equestrian centre remains uncertain.
