By James Chapman Mail
Ministers have approved the sale of more than 200 school and community playing fields, despite repeated promises to protect them.
Even in the four years since London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics, the Government has allowed the sell-off of 49 school sports fields. In total since Labour came to power in 1997, 203 pitches have been lost. In its 1997 General Election manifesto, Labour pledged to bring the then Tory government’s ‘policy of forcing schools to sell off playing fields to an end’. Sacrificed: Since Labour came to power in 1997, 203 pitches have been lost. Opposition MPs said the latest figures made a mockery of the Government’s commitment to boost school sport, with every child supposed to be doing five hours a week in the run-up to the Games. Five years ago, the Government said any future sales would have to be signed off by the Secretary of State and the money raised reinvested in educational facilities. As well as the playing fields, more than 1,000 other smaller pieces of school land have also been sold off. Only pieces of land smaller than half an acre can now be sold without being signed off by a minister.
But until March, the limit was an acre, meaning that sizeable areas were being sold off without consent. The Department for Children, Schools and Families rejected claims that it was allowing schools to cut sports facilities. It said pitches had never been better protected, and sales were allowed only at closed schools or where land was surplus to school and community needs.
But Tory culture spokesman Jeremy Hunt said: ‘Labour insist they are the guardians of school sport yet they have clearly failed, and are continuing to fail, on a key manifesto promise. The fact that more than 200 pitches have been sold with direct ministerial approval shows Labour’s commitment to school sport is nothing more than an empty promise. Their actions simply do not match the rhetoric.’
Margaret Morrissey, of campaign group Parents Outloud, said: ‘Despite all the Government’s wonderful words on this issue, it seems that when we get to the truth playing fields are still being removed. ‘It’s something that ministers should be seriously ashamed of. ‘One of the excuses we often hear is that an area of AstroTurf is being built instead. But it just isn’t the same thing. Children do not run around in the same way and play on a sterile surface.
‘Ministers are very keen to be seen playing cricket and football and running around gyms with schoolchildren. But when there are playing fields disappearing, they’re nowhere to be seen.’

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