Plans to sell off a town centre car park have been put on hold after objectors forced the council to reconsider the decision.

Three Conservative councillors objected to the decision to sell the site in the Broadway and Russell Road, at an overview and scrutiny committee on April 30 and called the decision to be reconsidered.

The council wanted to sell the land to raise money to offset “significant expenditure” and reduce borrowing.

The car park generates £220,000 a year in revenue and objectors raised concerns Wimbledon would lose an important amenity.

Objections raised at the meeting included accusations of poor consultation and the sale being rushed through to prevent the community from registering the site as an asset of community value, enabling a community group to purchase the site.

The council has been asked to get an independent valuation of the land before it meets to consider this decision again.

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, conceded there were no specific plans for funds raised from the sale, but said the money would go into capital programme funding or would be used to reduce borrowing.

He denied the council had not consulted fully.