A petition organised by a school to save an activity centre used by Redbridge children for over 50 years will be submitted tonight.  

The decision to sell Glasbury Outdoor Education Centre in south Wales by August 2015 was agreed during a Redbridge cabinet meeting in November last year.

Since 1963, it has been run by the council as an outdoor activity centre for activities such as canoeing, rock climbing and kayaking, for up to 1,800 pupils a year. 

South Woodford's Churchfields Junior School, which organised the 2,718 signature-strong petition, is calling on the decision to be reversed.

Wendy Thomas, headteacher of Churchfields Junior, said: “Children enjoyed the outdoor educational experience at Glasbury House so much that they felt future generations of children should be able to benefit from the same experience. 

“Empowered by the democratic process and what they learn at school about democracy they decided to write to the cabinet members in the lead group in the local authority and other local councillors to petition for their support. 

“The school collected signatures from the local community for a petition to save Glasbury House."

Conservative Church End Cllr Tom McLaren will hand over the petition to the full council meeting tonight.

He said: “I am full of admiration for the work done by the schools involved in highlighting what the closure of Glasbury would mean, as well as the impact that it will have on the borough's children.

“The importance of the facility in the education of young children and the opportunity that it affords to children throughout the borough can't be understated.

“I want Cllr Streeting and his Labour party colleagues to reconsider their position on the centre.”

But deputy leader of Redbridge’s Labour council, Wes Streeting, said it was too late.

He said: “The decision is already taken and we are in the process of selling the centre.

“I understand completely why lots of families and schools will be upset but the hypocrisy of the Conservative group does astound me.

“It was their administration who put the closure of Glasbury on the agenda when they were in power.”

The full council meeting will take place at 7.15pm tonight at Redbridge town hall in Ilford.