However the council leader has still not apologised for spreading misinformation about the Green Belt, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Crews Hill Golf Club and (inset) Enfield Council leader Ergin Erbil

The leader of Enfield Council has deleted a social media post containing multiple false claims because of the “volume of complaints” – but still refuses to apologise for it.

On Sunday, 22nd February Ergin Erbil published a video on both his Facebook and X accounts in which he falsely claimed Crews Hill Golf Club was not within the Green Belt, only has 20 members, and was not important for wildlife.

This prompted a backlash from the golf club, which pointed out that it has over 400 members and is indeed part of the Green Belt.

The golf course is also designated as a ‘site of importance for nature conservation’ (Sinc) – a designation supported by the council in its most recent Sinc review.

The club further refuted Cllr Erbil’s claim it was “private”, pointing out it has hundreds of non-members playing the course every year.

Cllr Erbil’s video was posted in an attempt to defend controversial government proposals, backed by the Labour-led local authority, to build up to 21,000 homes on Green Belt land in Crews Hill and ‘Chase Park’ as part of its ‘new towns’ initiative.

Crews Hill Golf Course itself is currently earmarked for 200 new homes in the council’s draft Local Plan and would be included within the new town if it goes ahead.

In his video, Cllr Erbil also claimed “6,000 council homes” would be built at Crews Hill Golf Course. It not known where this figure originated.

Cllr Erbil’s misleading social media post has now been deleted from both X and Facebook, more than two weeks after it was posted.

Asked by the Local Democracy Reporting Service for an explanation and whether he would be issuing an apology for spreading misinformation, Cllr Erbil said: “I removed it because the volume of complaints from a small number of golf course users risked becoming a distraction from the much bigger issue we should be focused on, which is the urgent need to build homes for local families.

“I do not want that debate to be sidetracked by noise when the real issue is the lack of affordable homes for people in this borough.”

David Spring, the general manager of Crews Hill Golf Club, said that while “pleased the councillor has removed his misleading and inaccurate posts” the council leader still needed to be held accountable for his actions.

Spring said: “Statements have been made which contain factual inaccuracies and which present a misleading account of the position.

“Such conduct raises legitimate concern when undertaken by an elected representative entrusted with serving the residents of Enfield.”

Spring argued that the council leader’s actions were not in keeping with codes of conduct and integrity required by councillors – and the Labour Party itself. He said his club had no political agenda and is simply concerned with inaccurate and potentially misleading claims made by those in public office, regardless of political party.

“In these circumstances, a prompt correction of the record and a clear apology remain the appropriate course of action,” he continued, adding: “Residents and businesses of Enfield deserve clarity, accuracy and accountability from those who speak on their behalf.”

Cllr Erbil added: “I stand by my view that the golf course is a man-made landscape and that it is right for us to consider it as part of the solution to the housing crisis facing our borough.”

In January a coalition called ‘Action for Enfield’s Future’ launched a campaign against the Crews Hill new town, listing eleven reasons why the area in north-west Enfield is “sub optimal” for housing development.

A decision from the government on each new town site, followed by a public consultation, is expected this spring.

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