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'We'll do it again and again until they listen'

Escape Outdoors A large circle of demonstrators on a grass park surrounded by trees, as seen from the airEscape Outdoors
The demonstrators formed a human circle around the playing field

Organisers of a mass demonstration against proposals to sell off a playing field say they will do it again and again until the plan is scrapped.

An estimated 1,200 protesters turned up at the Eastern Way playing field in Daventry, Northamptonshire, on Sunday.

West Northamptonshire Council said the sale would fund improvements to the town.

Campaigners said the field was both historically significant and vital to residents.

Martin Heath/BBC A crowd of people standing in a grass park with trees behind, some holding banners saying things like "keep off the grass". A number of them are holding up a banner saying "Saving our town green space"Martin Heath/BBC
Hundreds of people turned up to save "our town green space"

Despite persistent rain and heavy winds at lunchtime, people turned up with placards, chanted slogans and formed a circle across the grass.

Some of them said they had fond memories of the site when it was part of Daventry Grammar School.

Martin Heath/BBC John Marriott with a white beard wearing a brown cap and coat carrying a white terrier on grass with some people behind him.Martin Heath/BBC
John Marriott said the field was one of the first places where a formal game of rugby took place

John Marriott was at the school in the 1960s and said records showed it had been a pioneer in the sport of rugby union.

He said his predecessors at the school had "played rugby on this field in 1886, which makes this field one of the first places in the world that a formal rugby match was ever played".

"Why isn't that heritage being recognised by West Northamptonshire Council?"

Martin Heath/BBC Jan Hupfield with short light-coloured hair wearing a multicoloured scarf and dark raincoat with other people around her standing on grass.Martin Heath/BBC
Jan Hupfield (with scarf) remembers setting off on cross country races from the field

Jan Hupfield remembers cross-country runs setting off from the field: "We used to run for miles, unsupervised, but we all arrived back on this field in some sort of state.

"I understand and appreciate the development needed, but sometimes there's a limit, and this is it."

Some said their main reason for coming to the demonstration was the contribution the field made to well-being in the town.

Nicola Anderson said: "I believe green space is important to everybody, it's like a green buffer differentiating the town from the housing area."

Another woman said: "It's a safe space.

"I've got a disabled child, it's accessible, it just would be horrendous to lose it to housing."

Martin Heath/BBC Liz Scott with short white hair and glasses wearing a yellow raincoat and standing on grassMartin Heath/BBC
Liz Scott, one of the organisers, said she was amazed by the turnout

Liz Scott, one of the organisers, said she was "amazed" by the turnout and would be prepared to stage more demonstrations to "make as much noise as possible, and make sure [the council] hear us and take us seriously".

Dan Lister, the council's portfolio holder for local economy, said the sell-off plan was "only a consultation and not a foregone conclusion, we're still listening to residents."

He added that any money from a sale would be used to improve Daventry.

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