The future of a centre in Wales used by Redbridge schools for 50 years is again under serious threat, after previous plans to sell-off the facility were scrapped by the previous council administration.

The Labour leadership has announced it is looking to sell Glasbury House Outdoor Education Centre by August 2015, as part of £70million savings over the next three years.

The site has for decades provided outdoor activities, such as mountain biking and water sports, for up to 1,800 pupils a year.

The council said closure would save around £175,000 per year, with eight staff being made redundant.

In 2012 plans were put forward to sell the facility by the previous Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition, but these were subsequently scrapped following criticism from Labour and the public.

Conservative group leader, Cllr Paul Canal, has spoken out against the new plan.

He said: “Glasbury House is so important because it is set in the middle of the countryside and many of our children do not leave the borough.

“I understand cuts need to be made, but this is the wrong thing to target.

But Cllr Wes Streeting, cabinet member for health, said the decision was made with a “heavy heart” as the centre was not financially viable.

“We hope to reinvest all of the money we make by selling Glasbury into improving facilities here in Redbridge.”

Redbridge council’s Health, Leisure and Older People Service Committee will debate the closure on November 3.

For more on this story, see next weeks Guardian - out Thursday