THE Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has thrown its weight behind the battle to save Branksome Rec.

A meeting was held earlier this week to discuss the options now open to the protestors desperately attempting to block Poole Town’s £1 million development scheme.

Terry Stewart, president of Dorset CPRE, spoke at the meeting and said the group was concerned about the potential loss of some parkland.

He said: “We are definitely concerned with protecting green open spaces and public spaces.

“I think our role is to protect these spaces for residents – that is what this is about.

“We are offering background advice and trying to set out what the law is on these matters.”

One chink of light for the objectors is an application made in February to turn Branksome Rec into a town green.

Were it granted the special status, it would be subject to greater protection and stricter planning regulations.

It is the first such application the Borough of Poole has received, but the council said it would unlikely to be heard until September at the earliest – by which time the Poole town plans could be well under way. The meeting also agreed to form a residents’ association off the back of the Branksome Rec Action Group (Brag), which was established specifically to fight the football club’s plans.

The scheme, which involves building a new ground and upgrading the rec’s current facilities, won crucial council backing at a tense meeting earlier this month.

A planning application is due to be submitted in the coming weeks, though this is likely to be fought all the way by protesters.