PROTESTERS opposed to building on a sports ground in Croxley Green have vowed to 'breathe down the neck' of developers to ensure minimum disruption.

The comment by the chairman of the Old Merchant Taylors' Site Action Group (OMTSAG), Mr Oliver Hammond, came after a Government inspector gave the green light to the construction of 130 new homes on the 20-acre Old Merchant Taylors' Sports Club in Lincoln Way, on Monday, June 26.

The first proposal for the land was for 200 houses, but the number was reduced to 150 by Three Rivers District Council in its Draft Local Plan last year.

An inspector began an inquiry into the draft plan - which outlines the long-term planning policies for the district - in September last year. The inquiry ended in March.

Mr Hammond, of Lewes Way, Croxley Green, said he was disappointed with the approval decision and said he would keep a close eye on the developers.

He said: 'We'll carry on complaining and watching over the planning process in detail.

'We will approach developers to see if we can have some sort of consultancy with them, rather than work against them.

'We want to make sure at least a couple of the playing fields are retained on the site.

'We have major concerns regarding road safety during construction and we will be breathing down the necks of developers to make sure we have as much impact as possible.'

The privately owned ground has been used by former pupils of Merchant Taylors' School in Sandy Lodge Lane, Moor Park, for more than 60 years.

The OMT Society - the body responsible for maintaining the site - decided to move its activities to the school last year and sell the land.

The council now has eight weeks to study the inspector's findings before it has to make the report public.