MORE than 200 people turned out to walk College Fields on Saturday, where ploughing of the land for the first time in decades has fuelled fears that a bid to seek planning consent is in the pipeline.

"Feelings were running very high," reported one walker who said that while a few people confined themselves to the official footpath at the edge of the field, the vast majority decided to take the diagonal route that had been obliterated by the ploughing, believing that a right of way has been acquired through years of use.

Developer Wimpey holds an option to develop the 24 acres and it has been identified in a Waverley Council list of sites whose housing potential will be considered.

The farmer who leases the land, however, has said he has ploughed it simply to try and improve the hay crop.

North West Farnham Residents' Association has stepped up its Save our Fields campaign with a petition and a move to bombard councillors and MP Jeremy Hunt with letters. For details see nwfarnham.org.uk.