The fight to save Kneller Hall was dealt a blow after Friday’s public meeting left campaigners feeling “pessimistic” about the site’s future amid rumours of RFU investment.

LAST MONTH: Defence minister reveals Kneller Hall is earmarked for 192-property development in Parliament debate

Twickenham MP Tania Mathias organised the meeting, attended by Royal Military School of Music commandant Barry Jenkins and a representative from the Ministry of Defence, which owns the site.

The debate was held in front of a packed-out audience at the Whitton mansion but one of the lead campaigners trying to save the building said the meeting “wasn’t very satisfactory”.

Nikki Bradshaw, whose change.org petition has gathered more than 5,000 signatures, said: “The commandant was totally disinterested in being there.

“The MoD didn’t answer 90 per cent of the questions from the floor and it wasn’t even [defence minister] Mark Lancaster, so all in all it wasn’t a very satisfactory meeting.”

Reports in the national media have suggested that the RFU are weighing up the £30m purchase of Kneller Hall, with the intention of turning the estate into a rugby academy.

Former Twickenham MP Vince Cable, who previously fought to save the site, said such a move would give “some assurance” to Whitton residents.

He said: “I didn’t attend the meeting but I was told that the mood was one of pessimism.

“I think [the RFU purchasing Kneller Hall] would give some assurance to the local population if it was kept for community use and didn’t have over-development.”

The estate has been earmarked for 192 new homes after being put up for sale by the Government as part of a nationwide disposal of underused sites.

The MoD did confirm at the meeting that it would not build on the Metropolitan Open Land surrounding the hall.

Campaigner Ms Bradshaw added: “I’m not sure where we go from this – we have had over 8,000 signatures across various petitions but I don’t think it is being listened to.

“Tania Mathias did an amazing step keeping them in line but I don’t know what the next step is.

“Whatever happens, it has to happen at her level and it has to come from her.”

The RFU has not responded to this newspaper’s request for a comment.

A woman whose mother died at West Middlesex Hospital says more must be done to implement the NHS’s “Duty of Candour” after an internal investigation into her mother’s death was only carried out after she took legal action.

Leader of Richmond's Liberal Democrats Councillor Gareth Roberts said: "It was very disappointing, and incredibly discourteous, that the Minister was too frit to attend the meeting and face his critics, choosing to send a civil servant to take the flak.

"Unfortunately given the comments from the Ministry it would appear this is something of a done deal, however there is still fight within the community and we shall continue to oppose these plans."

Whitton Councillor Gareth Elliott tweeted: “Good question #KnellerHall How much will other sites cost to bring up to standard. No answer from MoD”.

The school was granted the freedom of Richmond in 2007 and exercised that right with a military parade through the streets of Twickenham in September 2014.