A RESIDENTS' action group is to present a petition to Roxeth ward councillor Jerry Miles on Saturday to demonstrate opposition to a company which wants to buy their back gardens for redevelopment.

The Save Our Gardens Group (SOGG) was formed by people living in Balmoral Road, Carlyon Avenue, Windsor Crescent and Alexandra Avenue, South Harrow, after about 25 home owners received letters from Private Sector Developments asking if they wouod sell large parts of their gardens.

No planning application has yet been lodged with Harrow Council.

About 150 residents met at Harrow Borough Football Club in Carlyon Avenue to discuss the implications, with speakers including Neville Hughes, president of South Harrow and Roxeth Residents' Association, who vowed to fight the proposal "to the death".

The petition, which was launched at the meeting, now has more than 500 signatures.

SOGG co-founder Steve Terry,who lives in Balmoral Road, said: "I, like many other people, bought my house because of the large garden.

"If someone wanted to build on the back it would destroy the utilities everyone's got, increase the traffic in the area and put pressure on local services."

Councillor Miles said he hoped to present the petition to the next full council meeting or to the development control committee.

"I have some big concerns about what has been proposed," he said. "It may generate knock-on effects such as traffic and parking problems. The council has done a review of school provision and it may affect that.

"I am worried about the whole principle of backland development. I do accept there is a shortage of housing, but I'd rather see empty office buildings or brownfield sites developed."

To contact SOGG, write to Mr Terry at 93 Balmoral Road, South Harrow, or call 07906 937579.