A petition against plans to build a car park and toilet block as part of a housing development in countryside of historical and cultural significance has amassed more than 1,250 signatures, meaning it will be discussed at a full council meeting.

Planning permission to build 800 homes and a primary school in Forster Country - land between North Road and Weston Road in Stevenage - has already been granted by Stevenage Borough Council.

Forster Country lies within the St Nicholas Conservation Area and includes author EM Forster's childhood home Rooks Nest House, Grade I-listed St Nicholas Church and Grade II-listed The Bury.

Hundreds of people had objected to the proposed housing development, with concerns including urban coalescence and loss of heritage, and now permission is being sought to build a 50-space car park and toilet block as part of plans for a country park on the development.

Chris Naylor, a spokesperson for the Friends of Forster Country campaign group, says the "overly designed urban park" has been proposed with no public consultation.

A petition by the group has amassed more than 1,250 signatures so far, meaning it will be discussed at a meeting of the full council.

The petition asks for the park plans to be withdrawn and a public consultation held, with input from experts on the restoration and preservation of the meadows.

Countryside charity CPRE Hertfordshire says the car park proposal is "hugely regrettable and an entirely inappropriate feature".

The charity's planning manager, Chris Berry, said: "The provision of municipal-type facilities introduces alien features into this highly-valued rural landscape.

"Constant references in the planning statement to management of the country park by Stevenage Borough Council - and the proposed toilet block, hard-standing, bins and tarmac - are incompatible with the assertion by the applicant that the proposals 'provide for the creation of 38 ha of informal open space for use by the general public'.

"The proposed car park and toilet building will degrade the open character of the countryside."

A council spokesperson has said "there will be open consultation so all local people can have their say", adding that the council's planning and development committee has "made it very clear the proposals for the country park must be of the highest ecological and environmental standards, and respect local heritage".

To sign the petition, visit chng.it/XdwNfXMcNg.