AN inquiry that campaigners hope could stop a church building on its playing field is due to begin next week.

A group of North Harrow residents is applying to register the green space, owned by St George's Church, in Pinner View, as a town green in an attempt to protect it from development and keep it open for the community.

They have been collecting evidence since February 2008 and will begin presenting their case on Tuesday, in the latest chapter of a long running dispute between the two sides.

The evidence will be heard and it will then take several months to produce a report which will then be used by councillors to make a decision on the application.

Marion Garner-Patel, of Kingsfield Estate Residents' Action Group, said: “We are hoping we have now got enough witnesses and users of the field to support our application for it to become a town green so it's there for the residents of Headstone and Harrow.”

But the church dismisses many of the claims and says being forced to spend time and money fighting the bid is “regrettable”.

Reverend Stephen Keeble, the church's vicar, said: “There is not and never has been a legal or moral right for anyone to use the church field without the permission of St George's Parochial Church Council.

“The land is church land purchased by the Parochial Church Council in 1922 for the use of St George's Church.

“For over 20 years now a small group of people has been circulating fanciful and sometimes malevolent stories about the ownership and purpose of the field.”

The church also attacked Labour councillors, including Councillor Bill Stephenson, leader of Harrow Council, for helping the residents and making it “a political issue”.

Cllr Stephenson said: “I facilitated the residents and helped them to find legal advice. I have had no role in helping prepare the case whatsoever.”

The church has an application to build 15 flats and 12 houses on the field which was rejected by the council.

The church appealed the decision and a public inquiry will be held by a planning inspector later this year.