PEOPLE of Cirencester desperate to save a beloved piece of green space from developers were left desperately disappointed earlier this week as their application to make it a Village Green was rejected.

Yet they are now on a mission to appeal the inspector's decision.

Residents have been fighting to save the grassy area between The Whiteway and Bowling Green Avenue, known fondly as the Humpty Dumps, from being developed on ever since Baylight Properties proposed to build 100 houses there since January 2010.

But after tireless efforts from a group of dedicated volunteers, the application to turn the Humpty Dumps into a village green, meaning it would be safe from development forever, has been turned down by Gloucestershire County Council.

In 2010 volunteers committed to saving the Humpty Dumps formed FROTH (Friends of the Humpty Dumps) which set about recruiting volunteers and supporters to help strengthen their application. Members had to prove the space of land had been used for recreation by people of the area for more than 20 years.

"We are desperately disappointed that our application to have the Humpty Dumps designated a Village green have failed despite our best efforts and support from the town council, many councillors and hundreds of supporters," said Tim Bennett on behalf of the FROTH committee.

"With hindsight maybe we were a little naïve to think that a group of dedicated and eager volunteers, with little or no legal knowledge, could fight against a property developer and an eminent QC from London.

"We all feel we did the best we possibly could and despite our disappointment are glad that we tried.

"We would like to thank all our supporters and especially our witnesses who gave evidence at the hearing.

"We can only hope that planning is not approved and an important green space in Cirencester is preserved."

Deputy mayor of Cirencester Mark Harris attended the meeting of Gloucestershire County Council on April 22 and said it was sad that the application was rejected on advice of inspector Rowena Meager.

"The rejection hinged on the 'locality' technicality of the application," said Cllr Harris. "Stratton and Whiteway ward was only formed in 2003 so a 'significant number' of that locality could not have used it for 20 years as it legally didn't exist.

"Obviously this does not give the green light to Baylight to start bulldozing the land, but we need to ensure that we protect the land in whichever other ways we can if it is to remain open space."

Cllr Harris remains confident though.

"While we are all very disappointed at the village green status being denied, the district council local plan includes the Humpty Dumps as a local green space. The plan says development will not be permitted within a local green space unless there are exceptional circumstances and either way particular attention will be paid to the views of the local community."

Head of legal services at Gloucestershire County Council Christine Wray said: “The county council Commons and Rights of Way Committee followed the recommendations of an independent inspector and the application was refused in April. The decision was made because the land had not been used for sports and recreational activities and did not meet other legal requirements for the land to qualify as a village green.”

A group of supporters met at the weekend to talk about how they could save the piece of land from being turned into 100 homes.

The report of the enquiry can be viewed on the Humpty Dumps web site. See humpty-dumps.co.uk for more.