A campaigner is calling for resignations after it has emerged that an open space was almost given away to an out-of-town consortium for free.

Harrow East’s Conservative MP Bob Blackman debated the saga of Whitchurch Playing Fields in Wemborough Road, Stanmore, with education minister David Laws on Tuesday at the Houses of Parliament’s Westminster Hall.

Mr Blackman attacked previous Harrow Council administrations’ arrangements with preferred bidder Whitchurch Consortium, which wants to build a replacement pavilion and upgrade facilities.

He said: “It was given at a peppercorn rent which turned out to be, after a long battle was fought by residents for information, zero pounds.

“Harrow Council, under Labour, gave away 25 acres of communal land to a private consortium for free.”

Since the Conservatives took power in September 2013, local Avanti House School has shown interest building a new school building on the site. The Education Funding Agency’s feasibility report is due next month.

Council leader Susan Hall (Conservative) has said negotiations would continue with the consortium if the school bid fell through.

Campaigner Melanie Lewis, of Abercorn Road, Stanmore, said: “An independent inquiry as to why subsequent councils have been so keen to give Harrow land away to these people should be started immediately.

“Any person who supported this mess should resign in shame.”

The consortium have threatened to take legal action against Harrow Council if they do not get the land.