CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a derelict sports ground turned out in force to celebrate another victory in their battle.

More 80 residents packed into Woolwich Town Hall to hear Greenwich councillors confirm the Gaelic Athletic football ground in New Eltham will remain designated as community open space.

The ground has been empty for 14 years and its owner, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), has been trying to sell the site for redevelopment.

During a periodic review of Greenwich Council's Unitary Development Plan last year, a planning inspector recommended the status of the site be changed to mixed use.

This would have opened the way for the latest potential developer, Novolong, to build 261 homes in blocks three and four storeys high.

A community hall and a medical centre would also have been built, with the centre of the site remaining as public open space.

Although Greenwich Council initially backed the change, it backtracked in the face of fierce opposition from residents and Bexley Council.

Greenwich then recommended no change.

After a six-week consultation period this decision was confirmed last week.

Residents living near the ground in Avery Hill Road have been battling since 1968 to stop the 12.8 acre site from redevelopment and have already successfully fought off nine planning applications.

Formerly in Bexley borough, the ground became part of Greenwich after a boundary change.

However, most of the surrounding residents still live in Bexley borough.

Greenwich Council's decision to make the site community open space for the next 10 years makes it almost impossible for the site to be redeveloped in the forseeable future.

Campaigners now hope to convince the GAA to give up the land so it can be turned back into a sporting facility.

Residents Against Gaelic Environmental Destruction chairman Malcolm Bond said: "There is so much public sentiment in favour of this site.

"What we need to do now is persuade the landowner to see sense."