A change.org petition for a public open space in Marascala’s St Anne Garden not to be taken over for development has been signed by more than 1,500 people.

The area is set to be used for the construction of new council offices.

Petition promoter Daniel Cauchi said this was the only space in the centre of Marsascala where children could play without payment.

He said on Sunday that although more than 1,500 signatures were collected without the petition being advertised on the media, the council seemed to be speeding up the tender process for construction to start.

“I am certain that nobody has consulted the children who actually use the open space on a daily basis, although they are key stakeholders,” he said.

The section of the garden earmarked for construction, he said, was “an oasis of laughter and joy, day in, day out”.

But if it was built up, children would be forced to move to the Family Park which was 1.2km away from the church and less than 100m from a petrol station that was to be built opposite the park.

“Is this what we want for future generations,” he asked.