Campaigners fiercely opposed to development plans for an historic boat-building site on the Thames have petitioned Richmond Council.

Plans to transform Platt's Eyot, an island on the Thames between West Molesey and the Hampton Waterworks, were met with severe criticism from residents.

Developers want to transform the island to include 73 new homes, a car park, small businesses and a hi-tech two-way bridge. Campaigners Against the Proposed Platt's Eyot Development (Capped) want to see a heritage, education, training and nature centre on the site.

On April 21 they took their banners and petitions from Molesey's south bank of the Thames to Richmond Council's planning office on the north bank.

The petition, which has more than 400 signatures, was handed in by residents who object to plans to build housing for 250 people, with space for 100 cars, on the island which is currently unoccupied but provides lovely views.

Campaigner Liz Robertson said: "How sad that Platt's Eyot falls within the area of the Richmond Borough's authority, for Molesey south-bankers feel the same about Platt's island as Twickenham north-bankers feel about Eel Pie island."

The 73 planned homes would be set in blocks of flats, maisonettes and family homes and several of them would be built on the plateau the high upstream end of the island.

Capped is concerned that the felling of evergreen trees on the site will mean the development will no longer be screened from view.

Peter Parker, of Elmbridge Borough Council and Molesey Residents' Association, said: "There are currently evergreens on the plateau but it appears they intend to cut these down and replace them with deciduous trees. We are not against development because we want this site to look attractive again but we do want to keep these evergreen."

Property development company Terrace submitted revised plans to Richmond Council last month but objectors said they only contained one fewer flat than the previous plan, which was widely unpopular.