The Hands Off Our Lawn campaign is gaining momentum with over 2,500 signatures on the petition against the sale of The Lawn in uphill Lincoln.

Local Emile Van der Zee, who is heading the campaign along with Marie Diamond who runs the Come to Life gift shop and manages the Joseph Banks Conservatory on the land, said: “I’ve always kept an eye out for The Lawn believing that the council had to come to their senses and wouldn’t sell it. The area is great for the community and it means a lot to the local people.

“The problem is that the council hasn’t invested adequate money or attention to the maintenance of the building over the last ten years.

“We’re losing a very unique opportunity to make something out of the main building for local people organising events. There are so many amateur theatre companies in Lincoln that have to pay high rents and artists looking for space. There is no reason that they can’t look into making a cultural centre out of it.

“What the council doesn’t do best at the moment is looking at something from a creative or business perspective and they only consider the short-term gain rather than long-term. The Lawn has more potential than they realise.

“Most people are unaware that The Lawn is being sold and when they do find out their reactions are usually ‘They can’t do that, it belongs to the people of Lincoln, why are they selling it?’ The whole thing has been pushed through very quickly.

“During the Christmas and New Year period we’ll continue to go door to door and visit areas around The Lawn getting signatures and spreading the word. The petition is important in regard to the council but the campaign is just as much about awareness as anything and it’s something I’m passionate about.”

Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, said: “We have written to tenants to keep them fully informed about our plans for The Lawn.  Our intention is to market the property early in the New Year to encourage bids.  We will be carrying out a very detailed evaluation process, ensuring that the sale is in the best interests of the people of Lincoln.

“We will not base our decision to sell on price alone and any sale will be subject to the leases of existing tenants who currently occupy premises at the complex.  In the right hands and with the right investment, The Lawn and the conservatory could once again be a great asset for the city.”

For more information about the campaign or the history of The Lawn www.handsoffourlawn.co.uk.