CAMPAIGNS to save the Lucombe oak and change the site of a proposed sports and community centre were stepped up this week in a bid to preserve Henhayes in Crewkerne as a green space.

On Monday, the town council gave in to protesters' demands for a fresh study on the tree. It had been earmarked for the chop by the council after a report found it fungus-infected and at risk of falling.

Five hundred names have been added to a petition calling for a new sports and community centre to be built somewhere else. The petition was launched as a planning application was submitted this month for the development on green space near the tree, between Crewkerne Aqua Centre and Henhayes Centre.

Campaigner Ben Hartshorn said: "I was very pleased with the decision to let us get another report. We are looking into a non-political body such as the Woodland Trust to carry it out, or another expert with the professional qualifications, skills and interest to attempt to save it."

He said the proposed site for the centre was a "green corridor" which should be preserved.

Campaigners will fund the bill for the new tree report. It is expected to be completed in about two weeks.

Councillors previously refused the request, saying immediate action was needed as they were worried they would be at risk of being declared negligent if an accident happened.

But they changed their minds after hearing that unless there was a very strong wind the tree was not likely to fall within a fortnight, allowing time for another opinion to be gleaned.

The council would still be covered by its insurance in the unlikely event of the worst happening.

Mayor Mike Best said: "I think the campaigners wanted an 'independent' report done, that is independent of the town council.

"This gives them the opportunity to get it done and bring it forward to us and we can see where we can go from there."

The tree was fenced off last week as a precaution.

So far seven objections have been registered against the centre planning application on South Somerset District Council's website and a petition, entitled Save our oak! Save Henhayes!, has been started.

It is hoped 2,000 signatures will be collected before the consultation deadline of Tuesday 12 May.

Those who have signed it believe the Crewkerne area deserves a new sports pavilion and youth centre, but object to the location. Some say the present sports club and pavilion should be knocked down and the new centre built there.

But Cllr Best said he was keen to keep the present facilities open while the new centre was built and the proposed location would be better for access.

He believes the ground covered by the new centre would be smaller than the current run-down sports club and pavilion, which are to be demolished when the project is finished.

The campaigners are still considering trying to register Henhayes as a town green, in a bid to protect it from further development, but fear they may not have enough time now the planning application has been submitted.