CAMPAIGNERS trying to save a playing field from development have finished their application to turn it into a village green.

The Vange Community Group want to get village green status for the Kent View recreation ground in a bid to stop homes being built on it.

Basildon Council wants to build 73 homes at the site so it can help fill a funding gap for the £38million sporting village being constructed at Gloucester Park. However, status as a village green protects patches of land from development, so the community group has been busy gathering support for its application.

Neil Hart, a member of the community group, said the campaigners are hopeful the application will be successful and put off any potential developers for the site off Kent View Road, Vange. He said: “If successful the Kent View recreation ground will be protected from development for future generations to enjoy.”

As well as the application, a page on social networking website Facebook protesting about the sale of land called Save Our Recreation Ground has gained more than 750 members. The campaign is one of three groups formed to try to protect fields from the public land sell off, as residents are also opposed to develop at Pound Lane in Laindon and by Northlands Park in Pitsea.

Malcolm Buckley, councillor responsible for the environment, said the council would formally object to any such application.

He said: “Village green status is not always the be all and end all people think it is.

“For example people are often not aware that travellers have a right to use them, so if a group of travellers turn up there for a week there is little you can do about it.

“Is that something people really want to happen?”