MORE than 60 residents protested against plans to build 37 homes on green field in St John's.

Fortis Living plan to demolish an existing house on Hopton Street to gain access to the site and build the homes on roughly half of Sanctuary Park – a field surrounding Windsor Avenue allotments and next to St John’s cemetery.

A decision is yet to be made on the application after it was twice deferred to carry out further consultation and studies - the latest of which was to look at flooding in the park.

Resident Tim Schoonenberg said: “This park is a valuable and very well used community asset in a part of St John's where there is no other like it.

“It is one of the lungs of Worcester and an important ecological site which is home to a diverse range of wildlife including amphibians and slow worms.

“It was an irresponsible error to include this rich community asset in the South Worcestershire Development Plan, contravening regional, national and international policies.

“The stakeholder consultation process has not worked and the decision to build houses on this land goes against the wish of the local community.”

Louise Steed, who helped organise the protest, said: “Our community came together in action to try to save our green space.

“It’s time to listen to our community and reflect on our needs. Keep our green corridor green.”

Councillor Richard Udall and Councillor Matt Lamb both supported the protest.

Cllr Udall said: “The overwhelming will of the people is clear and obvious, they don’t want this development to happen.

“We support new social housing, but this site is simply not suitable, we need parks and we need to celebrate the local community pride which has been mobilised to save and protect vital open spaces.

Another local resident, Penny Webb, said: “This park is a vital hub of the community, a safe area to walk dogs, and a place to make friends in a world of ever growing isolation.

“It would be a travesty to see it gone."

More than 40 online comments were sent to council planners objecting to the plan, most of which criticised the destruction of one of St John’s few green spaces.