“Resource issues” have led Redbridge Council to close down a local environmental forum, members have been told.

The council broke the news that it can no longer supply “administrative support” to the Redbridge Sustainability Forum at its annual meeting.

The forum, which met quarterly at Redbridge Town Hall in High Road, Ilford, was designed to bring together government, business, community and voluntary groups to discuss environmental development in the area.

The Wanstead and Woodford Friends of the Earth (FOE) group, who had representatives on the forum, issued a statement slamming the council for not recognising the work the group had done.

A council spokesman said: “We continue to be eager to hear the opinions of the local organisations involved in the group and there are many alternative ways they can continue to have their say in how strategy is formed.

“These include area committees, the council’s new service committees, and the overview committee, as well as ad-hoc meetings.

“Should the members of the forum wish to continue to meet we would be happy to assist them in their networking and circulation of information.”

The sustainability forum was formed as part of the Redbridge Strategic Partnership in 2002 and members include Fairtrade Redbridge and Redbridge Disability Association.

The statement by the FOE group said: “The hard work over 10 years of the forum’s members in saving the borough’s allotments, reducing CO2 emissions and safeguarding precious open spaces and green belt land has not been fully recognised by the council.”

FOE representatives have asked the council for a full list of forum members in the hope of continuing it in some capacity.