A campaign has been launched to save a public green space in Southend town centre from a £19million library development

Councillors will call on Southend Council’s ruling group to withdraw plans to expand Southend’s flagship Forum library by building on almost 1/2 acre of grass in Elmer Square.

The green is currently used as public open space and by film fans as an open air cinema.

Labour councillor, Cheryl Nevin, for Milton ward, said: “There are only three patches of urban green space in the town centre. This one, the grassy area at Warrior Square and Milton Gardens, in Milton Road.

“There are 8,000 people in this ward. Where are they going to go? People love sitting on this patch of grass. It’s such a wonderful relaxing place. We can’t afford to replace it with another huge building when so many properties are derelict.”

The second phase of development, known as Forum 2, follows the success of the existing Forum library, which opened in 2013. Southend Council said the library has attracted almost 2million visitors, promoting officers to explore opening an extension, which would house an art gallery, conference rooms and offices.

Ms Nevin added: “There are number of other derelict buildings that could be used.”

The proposal has also been called in by fellow Labour and ward councillor, Julian Ware-Lane.

“This is a mistake,” he said. “I’m broadly supportive of a library extension, but I will resist the loss of this open space.”

A spokesman for the Saxon King In Priory Park campaign group, which has criticised Southend Council for overdevelopment of the town’s cliffs, said: “We’re not happy with the loss of any open space. From our point of view it’s a waste of money in the current financial climate.”

Forum 2 is a joint venture between South Essex College and the Council.

Councillor Ann Holland, responsible for culture and tourism, said: “This has always been a two phase plan, and Forum 2 was always going to go there. We only created the grass as an area in the meantime. It’s important that the new building goes on that site, because it will mask some of the surrounding buildings that are less attractive. This has always been the plan.”

The future plans and location will be debated by Southend Council’s Place Scrutiny Committee on Monday, at 6.30 pm.