A controversial road plan set to destroy 1,000 square metres of Brockwell Park could be scrapped because campaigners have found an alternative that could halve the green space lost.

Permission for Transport for London (TfL) and Lambeth Council to begin work on changes to the Herne Hill junction - including building a road over the entrance to the park to cut down traffic jams - was granted by the Government last week.

But Friends of Brockwell Park claim plans they had independently drawn up plans to alleviate the same amount of traffic congestion but at a loss of only 500 square metres of park.

The council would be obliged to use these plans they say, because of details set out in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) to protect Lambeth’s open spaces.

Friends’ chair Laura Morland said: “It’s not ideal - we don’t want to see any park lost at all - but we see it as a worthy compromise.

“Lambeth seem to have impaled themselves on this hook without thinking about the alternatives. We just want the chance to show the council these plans face to face.”

Ms Morland also said she was shocked there had been no provision to replace the green space lost and the council was going against promises to protect its green spaces.

She said she hoped London Mayor Boris Johnson would block TfL from funding the project because of his proposals to protect metropolitan land.

A Lambeth Council spokeswoman said the council was very happy to meet with the Friends of Brockwell Park to discuss any issues but until the groups had met it would be inappropriate to say whether the plans were likely to change.

She added: "There's been a desperate need for a number of years to solve the problem of serious traffic congestion, and the changes we've proposed have been supported by nearly 80 per cent of the local residents and businesses who took part in a consultation.

“The development will also help regenerate the Herne Hill shopping area and improve the entrance to the park.”

She said planning approval had been given in the context of the UDP in relation to the use of green space at this location.

The council is currently discussing funding with TfL but work on the project is expected to begin this year.

Mrs Morland said hundreds of local residents object to the plans and the 80 per cent approval was for a previous traffic improvement scheme.

To lodge an objection to the scheme with TfL click here.