"WE SHALL not be moved," say supporters fighting to stop developers Newfield Jones Homes from building flats on part of Ashton Gardens in St Annes.

The Supporters Of Ashton Gardens (SOAG) believe that their last hope lies in the fact that, although Newfield Jones has been granted permission to build the intended flats on the land, the firm doesn't actually own the land yet.

The protesters are also attempting to take the issue to central Government and out of Fylde Borough Council's hands.

Concerned St Annes resident Fred Moor of Sandhurst Avenue, explained the significance of the sale of the land.

"This decision is wholly separate from the planning permission," he said. "And there is yet time to stop the madness by refusing to sell the land.

"However, there is a real danger that the council will feel committed to approving the sale in exchange for the 30 or so pieces of Newfield's silver because it has already granted planning permission.

"They need to be convinced that this is not what the residents and visitors to the town want. Equally, the Government needs to experience the strength of local feeling."

A website has been set up in a final attempt to stop the building and to help bring this issue to the attention of the Government.

The website address at www.ashtongardens.org.uk contains draft letters for people to send to council, Government and Newfield Jones.

Active member of the SOAG, Eileen Harvey, said she was shocked by council's decision to allow the building. "The meeting was a real shambles,"she added. "We had collected 3,788 signatures asking to keep Ashton Gardens free from property developers, but this was ignored.

"We were told that it didn't matter how many signatures were collected -- it was a planning matter. We aren't giving up, though, and have sent the signatures to MP Michael Jack at the House of Commons, asking him to pass them on to the Ssecretary of State."

Managing director of Newfield Jones Homes, John Hayfield, said: "Why aren't these people prepared to accept the democratic process? At the council meeting on October 1, councillors were subjected to this lunatic fringe of people who are in the minority and living in a time warp.

"The SOAG group continues to argue that the institute must be kept because it is old, but fail to come up with any other ideas for the building.

"Hopefully, they will see in the end that the building of the flats will be a positive step for the gardens by helping increase security in the park with the lights from the buildings and the increased number of people in the location.

"The council has agreed to sell the land and are currently considering an offer we have put in."