'Hands off our open space'

But the proposals have angered residents of Kings Road, Kings Close, Sidney Road, and members of Walton and District Allotment and Garden Society, who have launched a campaign to save the site as open space.

They met on Saturday and formed the Save Walton's Access to Green Spaces (Swags) group.

John Fibley, 75, of Kings Close, said: "The council is planning to build on a large green open area which is used for picnics, cricket and games. It is going to run over it with concrete and ruin it.

"The council says the plan is in keeping with the area, but in Kings Close we have just a few houses and a bungalow, so how can 38 homes be sympathetic?"

Allotment-holders who have plots adjacent to the site are angry at the loss of amenity land, and say it should be used to promote recreational activity.

Allotment site manager John Brine, said: "Elmbridge Council says they want to preserve recreational land, but this goes against that.

"It is right near the centre of Walton, and taking bits of that away could be harmful. It has to stay.

"We want to see the area used for recreation and it would be nice to see cricket nets and tennis courts there."

Ben Digweed, 33, of Kings Road, Walton, said: "A lot of people use the area, like young football teams, and dog walkers, and then you have this over development which could take that away.

"A lot of people have campaigning independently, but we all got together on Saturday to decide on our plan of action."

The application is due to be considered by the planning committee on December 15 at Esher Civic Centre.