A residents association has lost its battle to register a historic piece of land in Elmers End as a town or village green.

The Bromley Council executive rejected the proposal from West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) on Wednesday (September 10).

Tory councillors were split on the matter with four voting against and three abstaining.

The land, named Elmers End Green, is flanked by Croydon Road and Upper Elmers End Road, not far from South Norwood Country Park.

The residents association believe the site, currently registered as an ‘urban open space’, is under threat from commercial development following the closure of its public toilets.

Chair of WBRA Marie Pender, 64, said the council’s development control committee had been enthusiastic about registering the site as a town or village green.

“The executive committee dismissed the development control committee’s recommendation of registration without a shred of empathy for local people,” she said.

“Instead they just dismissed the dozens of emails and letters supporting the proposal and dragged up excuses to do nothing.”

According to Ms Pender, who lives on Elmers End Road, the land can be traced back to 1723 and has stood unchanged for 300 years.

Bromley Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: “It is right to give consideration to these issues as protecting green space is obviously important.

“There is no threat to the grassed area between Croydon Road and Upper Elmers End Road and there is no need to add another layer of designation to the land.

“After careful thought, we have decided not to make any changes to the land’s status and residents can continue to use and enjoy the area as they have been doing.”