The opportunity to learn more about plans to redevelop the green space at Bosvale in Falmouth attracted more than 100 people at the weekend with some concerned over the potential loss of the field and others keen to see the development go ahead.

Falmouth Rotary Club and the Abbeyfield Society have devised a scheme which would see around 75 apartments built for the elderly along with a brand new community centre for the Bosvale Community Association.

The scheme has raised concerns among some local residents who are desperate to see the open space retained and have set up a petition opposing the plans. A consultation event held on Saturday at the ageing Bosvale Community Centre aimed to allay some fears and give people the chance to view the preliminary plans and speak to key figures involved.

Organisers were pleased with the consultation which saw around 120 people attend over three hours, including some who had wanted to put their names on a waiting list for the proposed apartments.

Rotarian Nigel Druce said: “It has gone very well. Our first objective was to speak to as many people as possible and we have done that today. The main concern was the loss of green space and we’ve heard stories of how in the 70s and 80s it was used for fetes and gymkhanas.

“The issue for Rotary is we want to make the best use for the wider community of Falmouth of this land. We thought long and hard and have identified that specialist accommodation for elderly people is a real priority that’s not going to go away.

“The council have not got the money to do anything at the moment. Fortunately we have the land, Abbeyfield have the money so we can do something. We accept that there’s going to be a bit of upset over it, but hope that over time people will see there’s a greater public good.”

Linda Harley, house manager of Abbeyfield, Falmouth, added: “A lot of people said they’d sooner have this development than a big housing estate. It’s going to get built on at some point.”

John Shipman, chairman of the Bosvale Community Association, said: “There has been a lot of interest. The main objective was to make sure everyone had the opportunity to see the plans. People must realise that not even outline planning permission has been applied for yet. This is in a very early stage.”

A pre-application consultation is to be lodged with Cornwall Council within a few weeks and a formal planning application is likely to follow in early autumn. The Rotary Club intend to hold at least one more public meeting. If all goes to plan, the first sod is expected to be cut next spring and the development completed by spring 2016.