An independent inspector is due to advise Bristol City Council on whether or not to agree to town green status for parkland in Whitchurch.

Elmtree Park Residents' Association want to protect the 15-acre site behind Asda in Oatlands Avenue from development, but the council is opposing the application.

The residents' association started a petition calling for town green status for the land, which 2,034 people have signed. The association's chairman, John Button, presented it to the council in June.

"The council objected to our application on two grounds," said Mr Button, 67, a retired Rolls Royce inspector.

"They said it could not be registered for town green status as we had not been using it by right for 20 years and they didn't think we had fulfilled the criteria in terms of the number of residents who had supplied evidence.

"We disagree with the council on both those points.

"We know the land wasn't purchased for open space but for the expansion of the airport in about 1938 and therefore it has been used by right.

"The council says there is no conclusive evidence either way."

Mr Button said 237 people filled in questionnaires about using the land for sports and leisure but the council said this was not enough, as there were 2,600 homes nearby.

The inspector, barrister Lana Wood, was to announce preliminary findings by the end of September.

On Tuesday the city council said her opinion was expected "shortly".

In the Bristol Local Plan, the land is designated as open space and a wildlife network site, but local people are concerned that it will be targeted for more new homes.

The council agreed in February to sell off 90 acres of its parks and green spaces to raise money.