Residents campaigning against plans to develop land at Bosvale in Falmouth have applied for the area to be designated a “village green.”

In April, the Rotary Club of Falmouth and the Abbeyfield Society revealed plans to build 75 apartments for the elderly along with a brand new community centre for the Bosvale Community Association on the field.

The Rotary Club bought the three acres of land in the mid 1970s and has refused to give into pressure to sell it for commercial development. It has donated the land to Abbeyfield, who will fund the proposed £11million development.

The scheme for the “extra care facility” though has been met with opposition from some local residents who want to see the area retained as open space. A petition has been signed by 250 people who want to “save the field” and now one resident has taken the fight a step further.

Kathryn Philpott, of Charles Avenue, has applied to Cornwall Council on behalf of the community, to have the land designated as a “village green.”

“The application has been registered, but it’s probably going to take about two years for a decision to be made,” she said. “It (the land) is protected until it goes before the panel so it does throw a spanner in the works for Abbeyfield and the Rotary Club.

“If they build on that land and we are successful, they will have to take it down. I am fairly confident that we will be successful because what Abbeyfield are intent on building would look similar to Cell Block H.”

Former president of the Falmouth Rotary, Peter J Griffiths, said: “The Rotary Club of Falmouth has been informed by the Abbeyfield charity that an individual has asked Cornwall Council to designate the club's land as a ‘village green.’ “The club and the charity intend the land to be used to meet the long term needs of the ever growing older population of Falmouth.

“The timescale for the council to consider this application is not two years but, notwithstanding, no building will begin until the matter has been adjudicated upon.

“Meanwhile the Rotary Club and Abbeyfield will continue to work with the council on the design and planning of this important new service for our town.”