A group of Widnes residents have vowed to fight plans to build homes on nearby playing fields.

The World reported recently how Miller Homes had submitted an application for 120 properties off Prescot Road. The proposals had already sparked opposition before even being officially submitted, with councillors in Hough Green and Highfield launching online petitions which have so far gathered more than 1,500 signatures.

Now a group of residents has formed Friends of Prescot Road Playing Fields and say they want to preserve the area for use by the wider community. They are also urging anyone with concerns to comment on the plans, with the window to do so set to shut on February 15.

Group member Peter Valentine, said: "We’re aware that although we live near to the development, the green space is used by people from much further afield to walk their dogs, exercise or just get out for a walk in the open air. Losing this green space and the public amenity is something that we know a lot of people are unhappy about."

Miller is one of several home-builders to receive planning permission for schemes in Widnes over the last 18 months, with work on 328 properties at its site off Lunts Heath Road well underway.

But the Prescot Road proposals have been controversial as the land is not earmarked for housing by the council, unlike the other schemes which have won approval. Instead, it is slated for sporting/recreational green space in the borough’s Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (DALP), which outlines the council’s planning strategy up until 2037.

Mr Valentine added: "That plan has been approved to deliver enough new housing until the year 2037. As such, this development is not needed. We’d much prefer for the land to be improved and turned into a better open green space, to maintain it as a community green resource, with the potential to open up other sports facilities."

In addition to the homes, Miller also wants to build a new arm at Prescot Road roundabout, an additional 5v5 football pitch, and re-mark additional pitches to allow for an additional 7v7 pitch and 5v5 pitch. It would also build a new play area.

But he added there were not just concerns about the loss of green space, he added: "Other residents have pointed out that the access to the fields by adding a fifth arm to the roundabout near the Four Topped Oak, as well as additional traffic, creates an avoidable new traffic hazard in an area where there have recently been a number of vehicle accidents."

The group has set up a Facebook page called Friends of Prescot Road Playing Fields - Development Objection Group.

Anyone can comment on the planning application until February 15 by accessing the council’s planning portal and searching for application number 24/00021/OUT.

Miller Homes declined to comment.