CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a sports ground from being turned into housing are holding a mass protest at a council meeting tonight.

The Save Oakfield Society will be lobbying Redbridge councillors this evening (July 21) in a final push to convince them not to build 600 homes on Oakfield Playing Fields in Barkingside as part of its local development plan.

Dozens of supporters are expected to turn out for the peaceful protest outside Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford, where councillors will be voting on the Redbridge Local Plan 2015-2030.

SOS committee member Philip Postings will be “urging councillors to reconsider this crime against the community and vote down this heinous proposal.”

Mr Postings, of Harts Grove, Woodford Green, said: “We’re hoping there’s going to be a lot of questions put to the council tonight.

“They know how big the opposition is on this proposal, they just don’t want to admit it.

“So come join us in your hundreds, even if you don’t get into the meeting itself, we want as many faces as possible.”

Redbridge Council wants to release the sports ground in Forest Road from the green belt because “it no longer meets the purpose of keeping land within the green belt” and the potential houses would “greatly assist the council in meeting its housing need”.

SOS campaigners will be outside Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford High Road at 6.45pm ahead of the meeting at 7.15pm.