A public inquiry will open on Wednesday, November 6, to consider the case for turning one of Oxford's most controversial sites into a town green.

Campaigners wanting to save the Trap Grounds in north Oxford from development will argue the three-acre site is already used as common land and should be registered as a green.

The Friends of the Trap Grounds hope the inquiry will repeat a recent legal decision on common land. Three years ago, villagers in Sunningwell, near Abingdon, won a legal battle when land targeted by developers was registered as a village green.

Oxford Citizens' Housing Association want to build 45 affordable homes and an access road to a new school on Trap Grounds, which is owned by the city council.

The secretary of the Friends of the Trap Grounds, Catherine Robinson, said: "The law says that if local people have used a site for recreation for at least 20 years, without obstruction, permission, secrecy or force, it is eligible for designation as common land."

The Friends are expected to call a dozen witnesses who will explain how residents treat the western half of the Trap Grounds as common land, walking their dogs and using it for birdwatching, kite flying and blackberry picking.

A spokesman for the council said: "We're very happy to have the opportunity to put our evidence to an independent inspector."

The non-statutory public inquiry, called by Oxfordshire County Council, will be heard before an independent inspector.

The county's chief solicitor, Howard Perkins, said: "The recommendations of the inspector will be submitted to the county, which is the registering authority for village greens."

The inquiry will be in St Barnabas Community Centre in Canal Street, Jericho, from Wednesday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.