A PETITION launched by a wildlife group to protect two Basingstoke parks and signed by more than 2,000 people has been submitted to the borough council.

As previously reported by The Gazette, the Old Down and Beggarwood Wildlife Group launched a petition in May to save Old Down Park and Beggarwood Park, off Winchester Road, in Beggarwood, from having a road and a community centre built on them.

The parks, which are separated by Winchester Road, have been earmarked by the borough council as a potential site for a road connecting the area to the southern part of the proposed Manydown development.

But the group, which has 140 members, is urging the borough council to reconsider its plans and protect the parks, which are home to 230 species of plants, 24 species of bees and 43 species of different birds, by designating them as Local Nature Reserves (LNRs).

Chris Rose, chairman of the Old Down and Beggarwood Wildlife Group, spoke at last week’s full council meeting before officially handing in the petition, which has been signed by 2,011 people.

She said: “LNRs are places to play, learn and explore that can also deliver significant physical and mental health benefits. They are typically close to where people live.

“We have five LNRs in Basingstoke but they are all to the north and east of the town.

“There are other alternatives for a road to South Manydown. If you wish people to engage in democracy, you genuinely need to listen to their opinions. Old Down should not be for sale at any price.”

The petition will now be considered by Councillor Hayley Eachus, Cabinet member for community services and the environment, and a response will be given within 10 days.