Co-founder of Friends of Erith Riverside Gardens Alec Tapper and Joan McCarthy

Campaigners trying to save the “only green space left in Erith” being built on have managed to get more than 500 people to join their group.

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Friends of Erith Riverside Gardens are objecting to Bexley council’s proposals to build homes and shops on the High Street site, even though it would include keeping some open space.

The council is hoping for a developer to take on the project in a bid to regenerate the area after the public consultation ends next Monday.

Co-founder of the group Alec Tapper, of Chichester Wharf, said: “It costs £1 to join the group and a couple of people have donated £100. We keep the area clean and organise massive clean ups of the area. The council claim they want to improve it but this is the third time we have fought off their attempts. It is the only green space in central Erith.”

Fellow co-founder Joan McCarthy of Avenue Road, Erith, said: “This land was gifted to the people of Erith. William Cory, now Cory Environmental, gave the land to the council to use as an open space when they left the area and now the council want to build on it. It is immoral to sell a gift. It is going to be sacrilege to build on the land.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “The consultation proposes that the Riverside Gardens, which are currently little used and which suffer from various forms of anti-social behaviour, become one of the most important public spaces within the Erith Western Gateway.

“The proposals are for part of the site to include a housing and commercial development that could provide much needed homes, natural security and the funds to improve the gardens so that they could provide and attractive and useful open space. It is intended that proposals will be drawn up by a developer for consultation starting this autumn on this and the former swimming baths site.

“Consultation has included an exhibition in the local library and shopping centre and meetings with specific groups.”

For more information about the proposals visit www.bexley.gov.uk/erithwesterngateway