A MEETING to discuss whether playing fields should be controversially sold off is back on.

The Basildon Council meeting was called off earlier this month because of fears travellers and their supporters would use the opportunity to protest outside.

It has been rescheduled for 7.30pm, on October 10.

Labour councillors requested the extraordinary full council meeting to discuss alternative ways of funding the £38million Sporting Village in Gloucester Park, Basildon.

Parcels of green space across the town are being sold to housing developers to help fund the leisure centre.

Hundreds of residents have fiercely opposed the move.

The sites include land at Kent View Recreation Ground, Gloucester Park, Ballards Walk and Northlands Park.

The campaigners are planning to hold a protest outside the Basildon Centre before the meeting, as they had planned to do when the meeting was originally set for September 8.

Karen Jacobs, of Kent View Road, said: “A lot of people were very disappointed when the meeting was called off last time, because this is crucial to us and people are still very passionate about it.

“I think a lot of people will turn up to protest.”

Mark Boyden, 45, a campaigner from Roodegate, near Gloucester Park, said: “We will be planning our approach over the next few days and will announce our plans when we’ve decided what to do.”

Basildon Council called off the original meeting after consulting with police and deciding there could be a risk to public safety.

Phil Rackley, deputy leader of the Labour group, said: “It’s about time this meeting was held.

“There is no risk to public safety and the travellers themselves held a march through Wickford without any problems. I’m glad the meeting is now going to be held and hope lots of residents turn up.

The council’s 11 Labour group members say the council must recognise the strength of feeling expressed during a recent protest march against the sale.

They want the council to consider using money from reserves or borrowing cash.

Phil Turner, Tory councillor responsible for resources, said the authority had made a considered decision to sell the playing fields, which didn’t burden the authority with debt.

He said: “If the opportunity to fund it from other sources arises, we will look into that.”