LABOUR councillors have successfully called for a meeting of all Basildon councillors to discuss whether playing fields should be controversially sold off.

Campaigners fighting to save the green spaces plan to hold a demonstration outside the council's offices before the meeting, in the hope councillors will reverse their decision.

The 11 members of the authority’s Labour group requested an extraordinary meeting of full council to look at alternative ways of funding the shortfall left over from building the £38million Sporting Village in Gloucester Park.

They say the council must recognise the strength of feeling expressed during a recent protest march against the sale, and consider reversing its decision to sell land at Kent View Recreation Ground, Gloucester Park South, Ballards Walk and Northlands Park.

The extraordinary meeting will take place at 7.30pm on September 8.

Phil Rackley, deputy leader of the Labour group, said: “I’m glad the council will sit down to discuss it again.

“I was at the march and saw the strength of feeling, so the Labour group says the council should reverse its previous decisions to sell the pieces of land and seek alternative funding to meet the gap in financing the building of the Sporting Village.”

Labour councillors want the authority to consider using money from reserves or borrow cash to fund the shortfall.

More than 300 people attended August’s march through the town and 200 attended a similar march held on the same issue in February.

Andrew Buxton, 42, whose home in Roodegate backs on to Gloucester Park, said alternatives had to be looked at.

He said: “I think a lot of people will turn up to listen to the meeting and we’re planning to hold a demonstration outside the Basildon Centre at 6.30pm, before the meeting starts.

“I’m glad the council will be discussing it again because we feel nobody's listened to us so far.

“I really hope they come up with another solution to fund the Sporting Village, which doesn't involve us losing our playing fields.”