THE battle to save Ledbury's Recreation Ground from developers appears to have been won.

Ledbury people should hear in a matter of weeks as to whether or not the Recreation Ground has been formerly listed as a "Centenary Field," a move that would preserve it from developers for posterity.

Whatever the outcome, the developer who had previously expressed interest in building on the Recreation Ground, Philip King of PLK Properties, revealed this week that the idea of building on the site was now "off the table".

He said: "I am aware it is a war memorial site, and I don't think we shall be looking at that now."

Mr King did not, however, rule out building on the Lawnside area, not including the Recreation Ground.

He said: "We are still working on something, but I must keep it to myself. We are in discussions with various people."

Mr King declined to say more, except that a former idea of placing a superstore at Lawnside, which he ruled out in the New Year, remains off the agenda.

In 2013, PLK Properties proposed the demolition of the swimming pool, community centre, youth club, fire station and former ambulance station.

Under that plan, a new joint swimming pool, community centre and youth club complex would be built at the Orchard Lane end of the Recreation Ground, together with an outdoor multi-use games area.

This will not happen now.

An inspector from Fields in Trust, an organisation that has Prince William as its president, visited Ledbury Recreation Ground last week on an official inspection, ahead of making a recommendation as to whether it should be listed or not.

Cllr Martin Eager, who has been a driving force behind the campaign to get it listed, said no clues were given as to the outcome.

But he added: "I expect we shall hear in the next few weeks. We have no reason to think it won't go through. I am very optimistic."

Ledbury Recreation Ground was actually established as a memorial to Ledbury's fallen, after the First World War; but a Centenary Fields listing would given it added protection from developers.

Fields in Trust are running the Centenary Fields project in partnership with the Royal British Legion.

The aim is to "secure recreational spaces in perpetuity to honour the memory of the millions of people who lost their lives in World War I".

A spokesman said: "Through this new programme landowners across the UK will be encouraged to dedicate at least one recreational space as a Centenary Field. This will commemorate this significant milestone in our history and create a tangible local legacy that will be valued by communities for generations to come. These spaces can include war memorial parks and playing fields given in memory of those who lost their lives, or other significant green spaces."

In Ledbury's case, the owner of the Recreation Ground is Ledbury Town Council, on behalf of the people of Ledbury.