A poll on the Packet website is showing a huge number of people in favour of the Falmouth recreation ground being used for housing when the rugby club moves out.

The poll opened last week and within hours hundreds of people had voted. By last night, 854 had voted in favour of housing and 146 against. The online poll stays open until 5 pm on Friday so there is still time to vote if you have not already done so. The final result will be announced in next week's Packet.

The plan for Falmouth Rugby Club to move to a new site at Menehay, Bickland Water, and for their current ground to be turned over to housing, has now become the biggest debating issue for local residents for a decade.

A petition opposing the use of the ground off Tregenver Road for housing is expected to be handed to the town mayor Roger Bonney shortly.

Opponents to the housing scheme hope to persuade Carrick council, owners of the recreation ground, that they have no legal right to change its use and that it should be kept as open space for the use of people in the town.

The poll asking users for a yes/no answer, has shown not everyone sides with the opponents.

But Dave Saunby and Keith Rashleigh, who are leading the objections, claim the online poll is of little significance and that their 5,000 signature petition will carry more weight.

The "Save Our Rec" action group was still out and about collecting support before handing over the petition, they said.

"The general feeling we are getting back from the Falmouth people who have signed up is that they are deeply upset that the recreation ground, which has been the heart of the town for 120 years, is under threat," said Mr Saunby.

He and others are also concerned at suggestions that the Falmouth Rugby Club could benefit financially by moving after Carrick council claimed the lease the club held on the recreation ground had a financial value.

Objectors say the local authority has got it wrong and that deeds for the land, the original lease and a later "counterpart lease" could lead to the matter ending up in the courts. It was doubtful Carrick had the authority to do as it wished with the land.

Mr Rashleigh has also slammed local councillors for not supporting the action group and says they are not taking any notice of the people they were elected to serve.

Officials at Carrick say it could be some time before any decision on the recreation ground is made and that full consultation would have to take place.

Another group formed in Falmouth is the Families for Affordable Housing. They are in support of the recreation ground being used for housing and have also set up a petition. They say their support has been growing daily and that the needs of local residents must be paramount.