A CRICKET club is campaigning to save its 50-year-old ground amid fears a proposed 1,500-home development would force it to move.

Almost 300 people have signed a petition and are urging people to fight council plans to earmark land surrounding the ground in Charlton Village Road for development.

Treasurer Mike Hill said stray cricket balls could damage nearby property, and an alternative location suggested for the club in Crab Hill would not be suitable.

He said: “The ground is the wrong shape and the wrong size. It would also be right next to a bypass, and there would certainly be a problem with balls going into traffic.”

First team captain Colin Mercer, 25, said: “We just don’t want them to build right by our pitch. They have suggested an area but the size of the plot would not work. It is only just bigger than the square and they haven’t considered the pavilion, equipment, practice nets, and car park.

“We have only seen rough plans so it is difficult to say anything for certain.

“It was most likely put together by someone who doesn’t know the requirements of a cricket club.”

“It is very difficult to get good facilities. It has taken us 10 to 15 years to get the pitch to the standard it is now.”

Secretary Alan Mercer said: “We are looking to draw attention to the club and the role it plays. We have three teams that use it, the croquet club use it and the pavilion is used as a polling station.

“We are also warning people not to underestimate what is involved in moving a cricket ground.”

Honorary vice presidents of the club have included cricketer and umpire Frank Lee, commentator John Arlott and poet John Betjeman.

Vale of White Horse District Council spokesman Victoria Tilley said: “The overwhelming response from local people was that the cricket ground should stay where it was.”

A decision on whether to earmark the site for possible housing will be made in the autumn.

The Castle family, which owns the cricket ground, declined to comment.