Neighbours hope an application for a judicial review will halt plans to allow a private company to run football pitches in a public park.

The high court will decide whether to pursue a challenge to PlayFootball’s plans to take over a third of Hammersmith Park in White City, which campaigners claim lacked a full environmental impact assessment.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council granted permission in August for the private sports company to upgrade dilapidated football pitches and basketball courts, and take over their management on a 35-year lease. The bowling green and tennis courts would be removed.

PlayFootball could charge up to £90 an hour to hire a pitch.

Virginia Ironside, who lives in Loftus Road and applied for the review, said: “I’ve had incredible support. I’m against any bit of public space being leased to a private company.

“Although PlayFootball have a good reputation around the country, we’ve not found them terribly straight with the dealings with us.

Neighbours hope judicial review could stop private company running Hammersmith Park, White City

“A commercial company should not take over public land which was free for residents to use without any charges. The new charges are far more than local people can afford.”

She also criticised PlayFootball for failing to consult with neighbours living south of the park.

In response to the judicial review application, PlayFootball submitted a new planning application for the site in November. They had begun cutting down trees at the site, which was halted by a court order pending the judicial review result.

Harry Audley, chairman of White City Residents Association, welcomed the potential review.

He said: “The council has not offered the community a list of options for this site, which may include using a private company or a charitable trust.

“Considering this is a public park, it seems odd the public has not been properly consulted.”

Mr Audley criticised the council for failing to learn from mistakes from the original consultation for the second application.

“There was an insufficient consultation before and some people were still finding out about it at the last minute. And now we are still reliant predominantly on word of mouth,” he added.

Greg Smith, deputy council leader, said the council had been notified of the judicial review application but could not comment further.

“We are now waiting to hear whether the judge will permit the claim to proceed and are unable to comment any further at this stage,” he said.

PlayFootball declined to comment.