A petition to save a well-loved community hall has been launched, following the council’s decision to demolish it.

The Redbridge Conservatives launched the petition to stop the Sir James Hawkey Hall in Broomhill Road, Woodford Green from being knocked down and turned into a new development.

So far the petition has received 70 of the 1,500 signatures needed to trigger a council debate on the matter.

Redbridge Council has said it wants to knock down the Hawkey Hall and replace it with a gym, flats and a library to replace the one due to be closed in Snakes Lane East.

At a protest outside the Hall last Friday, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Iain Duncan Smith said: “There is no demand for the Snakes Lane library to be moved or for Hawkey Hall to be demolished.

“Local residents are clearly up in arms about the closure of the hall, which has served the community for the last 75 years.”

Conservative councillor Keith Prince said: “This administration seems to have no affinity with the past or what makes Redbridge borough what it is.

“It looks like this is just an exercise for the council to build some houses and make some money on the side.”

Residents Amy Pereira and Mary Harrod have set up a ‘Save Hawkey Hall’ Facebook page to accompany the Conservatives petition.

Ms Pereira, of Walpole Road, South Woodford said: “We don’t need more modern flats and another gym that no one wants or can afford.

“We want our community to have the resources we need to provide out families with the cultural heritage they deserve and not have to go to Ilford for those resources all the time.”

Ms Harrod, of Abbotsford Gardens, Woodford Green said: “The hall is a treasured part of our history, landscape and cultural life.

“We would have no local panto, no dances, and no space like this in our community if they took it away.”

Ms Pereira and Ms Harrod said they have been overwhelmed with the positive response in the page’s first 24 hours.

Redbridge Council has been contacted for comment.