ANGRY residents are continuing their fight to open up a piece of locked out land.

Residents gathered at a meeting in the United Reformed Church in Freemantle last night to put forward their arguments to open up Shirley’s old Civil Service ground to the public.

The campaign, which is being led by the Friends of the Field Group, called the meeting after it addressed the lack of progress being made with the landowners, Southampton City Council.

In 2012, the council compulsory purchased the land from Bovis for £400,000, who wanted to build homes on the eight-acre site on the basis that there was a lack of playing field space in the area and on the condition that the site could only be used by the local schools.

Cevn Vibert, Chair of the Friends, said: “It’s been a 14-year battle. I believe the council are being very cautious about the situation because they are scared that the CPO could be receded. It’s a matter of putting people’s heads together and find something that will work for everyone.”

Charlotte Walker, chair of the Governors of St Marks School, who use the playing fields for sports classes, said: “The playing fields are under-used and it needs to be fit for purpose.”

A resident of Malmesbury Avenue, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “The council are running scared. We need to take action now - there are plenty of solutions that have been put forward including allotments, which I myself would prefer.”

Dave Andrews, from Southbrook Youth Football Club, suggested that temporary structures could be an option in order to provide additional facilities for the local community, as well as continuing to use it for educational use if an agreement can be made with the council.

In response, local councillor Dave Shields said he was at the meeting to listen and will work with the council and look at how they can work with the schools, sports clubs and other community groups to find a solution.

The battle continues.