PEOPLE fighting the threat to a wildlife haven have been given a second date for their showdown with developers wanting to build flats there.

For nearly two years, the Medi Parc site in Hill End Road has been at the centre of a battle between residents and landowners Brookstream, a subsidiary of the Comer Group, which wants to build flats on the vast plot.

The developers moved to clear the site in February 2010, but campaigners quickly halted work and applied to register the land as a village green, a move which was accepted by Hillingdon Council. The site has been sealed off while the dispute continues.

A public enquiry was due to take place last April but was adjourned, and has now been scheduled for March 20-23 and 27-30 at the civic centre in Uxbridge High Street.

Campaigners hope to show then that the site was previously used by dog walkers and should be preserved for ecological reasons.

Hill End Road resident Tina Wane is the Medi Parc sub-committee leader for the Harefield Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

She said: “It really is a bit of a David and Goliath situation. They (Comer Homes) have got a QC, a barrister and solicitors and we are just going up against them as local people.

“It’s been a long battle. We have done a lot of preparation and have our witnesses and statement ready, and we just hope that it will be enough.

“People feel very strongly about this site. It has so many rare plants, and lots of different animals and insects – newts, foxes, grass snakes.

“It is unfortunate that it has been fenced off, because people no longer visit it, and we don’t want it to be forgetten.

“The council didn’t think this was a waste of time, so we are encouraged.”

In a statement, Brookstream said vandals break into the site daily.

It said: “We want to put clear water between the people doing this and the good citizens of Harefield.”

“We have spent a considerable sum so far defending our case and it has been immensely time-consuming and wasteful for all parties, not least the council.

“We remain hopeful that next year, we will be able to proceed with our planning application and hopefully engage in a more positive way with forward-thinking local people, for the betterment of Harefield.”