A PETITION calling for Basingtoke and Deane Borough Council to protect the Old Common has been signed by more than 200 people.

As previously reported by The Gazette, Basingstoke Town Football Club wants to build a new £10million stadium on land off of Old Common Road, in Eastrop, if the borough agrees to transfer the site to the club.

If the plans go ahead, the current Soccer AM stadium, in South Ham, will be redeveloped into an out-of-town retail park.

But a group of Eastrop residents who are not happy with the proposals, along with the Basingstoke Heritage Society, have launched the petition calling on the borough council to reject disposing of the land.

The petition, which has been signed by 263 people, argues that the existing Soccer AM stadium should be turned into a new housing development instead of a retail park, and that the loss of the Old Common land would impact on local biodiversity and mean a loss of green space for residents.

Debbie Reavell, a member of the Basingstoke Heritage Society, told The Gazette: “There is a lot of feeling about this. We have got no issue with the football club but we just do not want the stadium on this site.

“We have got a moral duty to make sure that this area stays open space. I know the Leisure Park was talked about and Down Grange, and I understand the reasons why the Leisure Park probably isn’t suitable.

“It is a shame something better cannot be done with the Camrose (The Soccer AM Stadium) site but the money has to come from selling that site.”

She added: “You get people saying that no one uses the Old Common land. It is not true. The park is lovely, and it is one of the busiest parks, and it is full of families and children which is lovely. If you want to go some where quiet, it is somewhere where you don’t have to get in the car.”

In addition to the petition, Eastrop residents have supported Crossborough Hill resident Dr David Williams, who has written to the borough council to see if the local authority is legally allowed to dispose of the land.

Mr Williams has claimed that the plans are in contravention of borough council policies such as the natural environment strategy and the green infrastructure policy in the draft Local Plan.

Councillor John Izett, borough Cabinet member for property, finance and commissioning, will now analyse responses received from the borough council’s consultation into the loss of green space at Old Common Road to inform his final decision on whether to recommend transferring the site.