A community determined to protect an open space used for fun days, sports activities, fetes and a children’s play area are once again campaigning against a development proposal.
Residents of Dovers Farm Estate, Rainham, submitted an application to secure village green status for the open space after Havering Council refused a housing development proposal for 32 properties last year.
Despite still waiting for a decision on their village green application, a second proposal to build 30 two and three-bed houses on the space was submitted in March by Woolbro Homes.
“If you go come round any day of the week, you will see kids playing out there and you know that their parents are watching them through the window,” said Matt Stanton, secretary of the Dovers Farm Estate Green committee.
“You cannot get that anywhere else. It’s a lot more risky [them] going to parks and you cannot see them.”
“We thought that they [Havering Council] couldn’t do that to us while we had an application in for village green status.
“To us it is our only amenity that is accessible to the older people in the area and to young children.
“We feel that we demonstrated that we are using the space and want to continue using the space.”
Dovers Farm Estate was built following the Second World War, the patch of land was left as an open area for the community.
It is bounded by New Zealand Way, Queenstown Gardnes and Gisborn Gardens.
Cllr Graham Williamson (Independent Residents’ Group, South Hornchurch) said he would be asking the council to ensure the village green application is heard and a fair decision made.
“There’s an awful lot of love towards that green,” he said.
“It has been used for many many years by residents for sporting and community events.
“It would be a terrible loss for the community if it was taken away for very few houses.
“It would be losing a gem for very little benefit.”
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