More than 45 houses are planned by developers for the site

Developers say Redruth's historic Fairfield site, which has staged the town's Whitsun Fair for more than 100 years, has been allocated for residential use and should be built on.

Opponents say more recent public framework guidelines put a greater stress on saving public spaces.

A government planning inspector is to decide whether the land should be residential or open space, after hearing the cases from Kerrier District Council and developers the Kingsley Group on 14 October.

There are plenty of brownfield sites that can be reused Keith Dinham, Redruth Deputy Mayor

Visions for the 3.7-acre site's future are very different. The Kingsley Group owners wants 48 new houses but others such as town Deputy Mayor Keith Dinham want a public park and civic amenity.

Mr Dinham said: "The town council obviously isn't against house building, but there are plenty of brownfield sites that can be reused.

"Kerrier District Council has identified enough brownfield sites to build our housing requirement up until the year 2011."

Kingsley Group managing director Mark Simpson said: "We're aware of a couple of petitions doing the rounds, but I believe that if people understood the argument from both sides, they wouldn't enter into these petitions in the first instance."

Urban Framework Plans (UFP) for the area have also said that public spaces should be saved.

A third of this site is going to be kept back for recreational purposes Mark Simpson, the Kingsley Group

However, the developers say these carry no legal wait, as opposed to Local Plans to address community needs.

They also say that public spaces are part of its development plans.

Mark Simpson said: "Nine of these homes will be for local needs and we're incorporating an area of open space for recreational purposes.

"That space will be transferred with a contribution to the local authority for its upkeep in the foreseeable future.

"This land has been allocated in the area's Local Plan for houses, houses that are needed in Redruth, and if people look at our plans closely, a third of this site is going to be kept back for recreational purposes."

Those hoping to keep the Fairfield as a public space will hold a meeting at 1900 BST on Friday to rally support for their cause before preparing for the inspector.