MORE than 50 residents gathered at a popular play park to demonstrate their support for retaining the much-loved facility.

The residents met at Beaufort Park after starting a petition to save their playground over fears it could be bulldozed for housing.

Beaufort Park, near Cranleigh Road in Southbourne is one of the sites earmarked for potential council housing.

Although no plans have been submitted or drawn up yet, the proposal is currently at the feasibility stage.

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Resident Jenny Ayling who set up the petition said: "We've now got 1,250 votes on the online petition and several pages filled up on the paper one and our councillors are behind us.

"We want to protect it first and hopefully develop it. The children keep coming here even though this isn't the best park because its local and they love it, there aren't any roads to cross and it's enclosed and safe."

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Sue Jones who also worked on the petition said: "The park serves Beaufort estate, from Cranleigh road to here, we are known as an area of social deprivation and with that in mind to have a community area that is green space and a play park that's used daily, is vital."

Ward councillor Lisa Lewis is also in support of keeping the playground, she said: "There's such potential especially with so many of our young people's centres being closed down and nowhere for them to go to, like there used to be.

"From what the Conservative administration are saying there isn't going to be a development here now but one wonders whether this will be the case in a years' time, it doesn't seem to be a cut and dried fait accompli that there's no development ever going to be here, so I think we do need to keep up the action and keep an eye on what's happening."

Councillor Philip Broadhead, deputy leader and portfolio holder for development, growth and regeneration, said: "Some of the sites in this consultation may come forward and be progressed for further consideration, whilst others will not. Sites such as Beaufort Play Park in Southbourne would only be able to be progressed if the land was considered more appropriate for other uses. As this land is a currently a play park, it also requires our parks department to be part of the decision-making process.

“Later this year, we will be undertaking a comprehensive Parks and Gardens Review and Refresh, where consultation will take place with the public about the future of many of our parks. We will consider which ones to improve and expand, and which ones would be more appropriate to be released for development. No decision on whether to develop Beaufort Play Park will happen until that consultation has taken place.

“We hope this gives the local community the assurance that there are no immediate plans to develop the site, and any plans would only progress if the park was deemed to be no longer required following that consultation piece of work."