SUPPORT is growing for a new group fighting to save Erith’s Riverside Gardens from redevelopment.

FORGE (Friends of Riverside Gardens Erith) is fighting against proposals in Bexley Council’s Erith Western Gateway plans, to build a five storey block of flats on part of the riverfront open space in Erith High Street.

The group, which was only launched six weeks ago, already has more than 400 members and is now preparing an application to have the gardens designated as a town green, which would prevent the redevelopment plans.

FORGE claims with an extra 340 new homes in the town centre under the Western Gateway plans and the planned move by Bexley College into the town centre, open space will be at a premium.

Its fight has won support from Bexley Friends of the Earth, which says the redvelopment proposal is a “callous erosion of the Green Corridor space which plays a vital role in maintaining wildlife in and around the riverfront”.

It is urging people to lobby Council leader Councillor Teresa O’Neill, ward councillors and Erith and Thamesmead MP Teresa Pearce, as well as objecting during the consultation period.

A Facebook page, Defend Erith Against The Highrises (DEATH) has also been launched at facebook.com/pages/DEATH/132993553435705 where people can give their comments.

Bexley says it needs to sell off part of the gardens to pay for improvements to the rest of the gardens.

People living in the existing tower blocks in the Western gateway area are also angry at Bexley’s latest plans, claiming proposals for more tower blocks around them will ruin their quality of life.

Meanwhile Bexley has announced another consultation event where people can meet council officers to discuss the proposals.

They will be inside the front entrance of Morrisons on on March 24 from 4pm to 8pm.

Comments can be made online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EWGspdconsultation or by email to ldfteam@bexley.gov.uk or write to LDF Team, Wyncham House, 207 Longlands Road, Sidcup, DA15 7JH.

Go to bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11179 to find out more.

The consultation ends on April 11.