RESIDENTS living near a field off Sling Lane, in the centre of Malvern, have launched a campaign to prevent it being leased to a local football club.

Malvern Hills District Council, which owns the field, is considering offering it to Newtown Sports FC on a 25-year lease.

But the Heart of Malvern Association fears the lease would mean local people would no longer be able to use the field for informal recreation, as they have done so for years.

They also fear that the proposal would mean increased traffic and parking in residential roads around the field, such as Spring Lane and Greenhill Drive, plus increased noise.

They have set up a public meeting on Wednesday, July 14, at Lansdowne Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm, to give local people the chance to air their views. A similar proposal was rejected six years ago after strong opposition from residents.

Gavin O'Mahoney of the association said: "We must emphasise that we're not against football and we're not against Newtown.

"But we don't think a body unaccountable to anyone but itself should have exclusive use of a field like this, which is used by the whole community."

Mark Hammond of MHDC confirmed that a proposal about the lease will go to the executive committee's meeting on Tuesday, July 27.

He said that if approved then, the proposal will go out to public consultation, which will almost certainly include a public meeting.

He said: "At no time are we looking to prevent public access to the land. There will not be any fences, no floodlights and no stadium."

Newtown Sports FC declined to comment when contacted this week.