An application to register land earmarked for new housing as a village green is expected to be rejected at a meeting tonight.
Residents living in Ickley Close and Butely Road, Luton, have fought for months to protect the open space in their neighbourhood from council and housing developers.
But the battle is expected to be lost as an independent legal expert who chaired a three-day inquiry into the application in January is recommending the Regulation Committee refuse it.
In his report, the inspector said: “I have concluded that any recreational use of the land by local residents was ‘by right’ and not ‘as of right’ as it is required to satisfy the requirements of section 15 (2) of the CA 2006. I therefore recommend that the application be refused.”
The agenda for tonight’s meeting at the Town Hall says the committee, having decided an independent legal expert should hold a public inquiry, should not depart from his recommendations unless there is good reason.