An open space on Portland should remain in the hands of islanders – rather than be swallowed up by the new Dorset Council.

That’s the claim of island councillors.

They are calling for the green space at Officer’s Field, which is about to be transferred to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, to stay under the control of Portland residents.

A legal agreement, signed at the time nearby housing was built for the Olympics, requires the open space to be transferred to Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.

Under current rules that would mean it becoming the property of the new unitary council when Weymouth and Portland Borough Council ceases to exist in April 2019.

Speaking at the borough council management committee, Cllr Kate Wheller said: “This is one of the few flat sites on Portland where football and cricket can be played. Officer’s Field belongs to the people of Portland and should be returned to Portland.”

She and others suggested that Portland Town Council would be the ideal custodians for the site.

Cllr Ray Nowak said the field was the island’s legacy from the Royal Navy: “That might be sentimental but that’s at the heart of it.

“The site is not commercially viable; Dorset County Council is not interested in playing fields…it will need to be cut and maintained. It’s the sort of thing we should talk about transferring to the town council.”

Councillors agreed to the initial transfer to the borough council but will also investigate whether the site could be transferred on to Portland Town Council.

Council leader Cllr Jeff Cant warned about taking the decision as a one-off. He said that the borough would need to take decisions about all its land transfers at the same time, although he said that the switch to Portland Town Council “seems the obvious thing to do.”