A public meeting has been launched as more than 800 people sign a petition to help save the Trent Park mansion.

The petition to Enfield Borough Council was launched just four days ago to ensure public access to the grounds of Trent Park.

It also calls for an application to be submitted to register the site, in Snakes Lane, Southgate, as an asset of community value.

Councillor Jason Charalambous has led the campaign to save the Grade II-listed mansion, which was bought by Malaysia’s Allianze University College of Medical Sciences (AUCMS) for £30 million in August 2013.

However, the private university, based in Panang, Malaysia, is now in financial trouble, causing people to fear for the future of the historic mansion.

The public meeting will be held at Christ Church Cockfosters, on Tuesday, March 10 at 8pm, with a number of speakers including Second World War historian Dr Helen Fry.

A senior Enfield Council officer will also be attending along with David Burrowes MP, Friends of Trent Park chairman Peter Gibbs and Christ Church vicar the Reverend Dr Richard Jones.

Campaign co-ordinator Jason Charalambous said: “It’s a reflection of how important Trent Park is to so many people that the online petition is attracting an average of 200 signatures per day. Links to this and the social media pages are available at www.savetrentpark.org.uk

“Trent Park is a wonderful place visited by nearly a million people a year, and the listed mansion at its centre is a hugely significant part of our Nation’s history. The vulnerability and risk to the heritage assets is greatly troubling, and I want to see Enfield Council being more proactive in protecting the site and ensuring it can be enjoyed by the public as it has been for decades.

“The fact that public access can be taken away, as it now has, means the council must intervene to grant permanent roaming rights. My vision is for the building to be restored and re-opened for the public benefit – promoting its amazing history and inspiring future generations.

“I hope the public meeting on March 10 is attended by as many people as possible – it will be a great opportunity to learn about the campaign, about the significance of the history and architecture and for the public to express their views on Trent Park.”