A group of campaigners looking to protect the open area in Talisman Square, have launched an official bid to preserve the town centre space.

Members of volunteer group Friends of Talisman Square have formally nominated the land to become an 'Asset of Community Value'.

They want Warwick District Council to list the open space in Talisman Square, to recognise its importance and try to protect the role it plays in "furthering the social wellbeing of the local community".

The bid has come as the group raises serious concerns about plans to build a five-storey block of flats on part of the site.

Land owner Cobalt Estates submitted a planning application to turn Talisman Square car park into 43 flats and two new shops last July.

WDC is yet to make a decision on the scheme, but locals have made numerous objections to the proposal, saying it is "in the best interests of the town" for it not to go ahead.

And now Friends of Talisman Square has launched a formal bid to try and stop the project going ahead.

"Talisman Square is the key retail, community and social hub for Kenilworth town centre, providing valuable opportunities for local residents and visitors to shop, socially interact and relax in an open, yet sheltered, public space," explained Catherine Dallaway, a spokesperson for the group.

"Together with Kenilworth Arts Festival and with the support of Cobalt Estates, we've worked hard to enhance Talisman Square and to transform it into a really special space, with a beautiful community garden, attractive wooden benches, murals and a community piano.

"We want to preserve this wonderful space for the enjoyment of future generations, both young and old.

"We believe that it's possible to do this while permitting some additional low-level commercial or residential development on the site, but not the scale of residential development envisaged by the owners in their application which would obliterate much of the current open space."

Volunteers have created a community garden and installed benches in Talisman Square (image via Advent PR)

If the council does agree to list the open space in Talisman Square as an Asset of Community Value, it could take this status into account when it makes a decision on Cobalt Estates' current planning application.

A previous scheme to build student accommodation and retail units was granted planning permission by WDC in 2016 but the build did not go ahead "due to the changing commercial landscape".

And while the new application is for a slightly smaller development, Kenilworth Town Council has also objected to the plans.

"We obviously hope that the [district] council will nominate this site as an Asset of Community Value and will take that status into account in reaching a decision on the planning application," added Dr Dallaway.

"The public space in Talisman Square is a really precious part of Kenilworth's town centre.

"We believe it's crucial to preserve it in order to maintain the viability of the town centre."

The application can be seen in full here.