Saving a play park from being bulldozed for housing has become a family affair as a teenager has set up a petition and her little sister hosted a political protest birthday party.

Siblings Elanya, 13 and Elyissa Foster, age two, have both been trying to stop council houses being built on Sturry Park in Sturry Way, Twydall.

The local authority-owned land could see a development of up to 20 two and three bedroom houses.

Elanya, who is home schooled, has marched the streets of Twydall to fill a hand written petition with 800 signatures against the development.

Her mum, Melanie Foster Smith said: “Elanya has been great, she’s been going round the streets for hours trying to drum up support for her petition.

“My other daughter Elyissa was turning two last weekend, and it was always our plan to have a picnic in the park on Sunday, September 22.

“We were approached by the group who are protesting the housing plans [Save Sturry Park and Playing Fields] who asked if they could join their peaceful protest with our birthday party.

“It just proves how important the park is to all generations.

“You always see young children going to school, people walking their dogs and the elderly in the park.

“It’s just a lovely community spot.”

Ben Potter lives in Woodchurch Crescent, which runs alongside the park, and helps to organise the Save Sturry Park and Playing Field protest group.

He said: “The park is so well used, we have four schools within two minutes walk of the park, so there’s always lots of school children.

“There is also two assisted living homes for the elderly in the very near vicinity.

“The protest had such a good turn out - at one point there was 220 people.

“Seeing as this one was such a great success we’re hoping to host another one soon.

“There are plans about us doing a Halloween protest, but that is very dependent on the weather.

“Hopefully we can get everyone to dress up and there was talk about getting pumpkins and lighting up the whole field with them.”

To find out more about the campaign, search Save Sturry Park & Playing Field on Facebook. You can sign the online petition here.

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