'We've struck a blow for future generations'. Those were the words of Shirehampton residents who have won the battle to save a much-loved community green space.

For months they have fought to save the land, known as the Lamplighters, from being identified as low value by Bristol City Council.

And yesterday, after being told the land may now never be built on, they gathered there to celebrate and told the Evening Post why they cherish the area, which could now be preserved for future generations.

Under the council's Parks and Green Spaces strategy, open space designated as low value will be sold off and developed, with the intention of enhancing remaining open space.

But at a public meeting in September, residents told council officials to "keep their hands off" the land and demanded a soil test be carried out to see if the Lamplighters would be suitable to build on. They said the land, next to the River Avon behind Nibley Road, used to be a landfill tip and may contain toxic substances that would be disturbed if it was developed.

According to Councillor Siobhan Kennedy-Hall and prospective parliamentary candidate Charlotte Leslie, the soil test revealed "significant heavy metals" beneath the Lamplighters land, making it unsuitable for development.

The council is writing to residents to tell them the land will now be excluded from a document due out early next year, which will list areas of land being considered for development.

Colin Pople, 63, of Nibley Road, has lived in Shirehampton all his life and it was his father Victor who had the land flattened and grassed over to be used by residents.

Mr Pople, who is retired, said: "The council has not confirmed this to us yet but if the Lamplighters has been saved, then myself and my whole family will be absolutely delighted. This was always intended to be a green area for everyone to use, and we just don't want it to be built on.

"It has been hard work to get this far, there have been a lot of meetings and a lot of people have worked very hard."

But a second piece of land, the Daisy Field between the Portway and the railway line to Avonmouth, off Station Road, may still be developed.

Mr Pople said: "We will keep fighting for the Daisy Field. We don't want any development here and we won't let it happen."

Ms Kennedy-Hall said: "Residents have been fighting all the way for this result. It was their input at the public meeting in September which has really forced the council to think again about its ill-thought-through plans."

The council's Parks and Green Spaces Strategy Consultation is due to be published in January 2010, and will include a list of Bristol green spaces under consideration for development.

Residents will have the chance to respond to the consultation and object to land included in the list for development, which is likely to include Shirehampton's Daisy Field.

A number of residents have spoken on the decision for Lamplighters.

Wayne Harvey, 43, a maintenance technician of St Bernard's Road, said: "The playing field was the original ground of Shirehampton Colts and we had two pitches there. It is absolutely brilliant. I spent all my childhood down there and hopefully it is secured for generations to come now.

"The pub is a key part of the area in the summer and is a magnet for families. People come down to watch the boats, especially with the harbour festival, and you get crowds down in the summer.

"It is a big lift for the community. Everyone has campaigned hard, so it is paramount that we support it."

Mrs Chris Callard, 42, a special needs teacher of Nibley Road, which backs on to the field, said: "We bought our house because of the space behind it. It has been a fabulous site for us, our friends and our children because it has allowed them to have an old-fashioned childhood.

"It feels like a really safe space and is a real community area.

"When we heard it was possibly going to be taken for building we were devastated, outraged and up in arms about it. We have fought it from day one.

"We are absolutely thrilled. It looks like it can never be built on, which is what we wanted.

"It is brilliant for the whole of the Shirehampton community.

"Because lots of areas in Shirehampton have been taken by the council for building it is great that we have been able to save this space.

"If we hadn't jumped up and down and shouted and embarrassed the council, they would have carried on regardless."

Bernard Lane, 50, a training manager of Nibley Road, said: "The result is fantastic and we are all really pleased.

"It gives access to the river, which has such a historic element to it. You can walk from Avonmouth all the way through to Sea Mills without walking on a road.

"My kids used to play here, we come down every day to walk the dog, and it is one of the few green spaces we can go to without having to drive.

"We are not against house building per se, but we are against losing the green spaces we have here. The pub itself is 18th century and listed."

Christopher Batt, 39, a business trainer, lives in Station Road. He is a Petty Officer in Bristol Avonmouth Sea Cadets, which is based on Station Road and has 53 members.

He said: "It means that for the cadets they have got outside space where they can do sport and activities safely.

"The loss of the space would mean we would have no grass area to practise, the cadets would have been less safe going to and from the unit and it would have ruined the river frontage.

"This is a really good, supportive, safe community, and we want to keep it like that."

Leon Franklin, 57, is landlord of the Lamplighters pub, which is also his home. He said: "I am born and bred in the area and it is such an important space for the community.

"Houses on the site would have brought more people to the pub but I would much rather have the open space for the benefit of the community.

"I think it is a great success and it is nice to know that there are people out there who do care about these things, as we saw in the number of people who turned out to support the process."