Residents are campaigning against land behind their homes being used for allotments.

Allotments... no thank you! Rosalin Cohen, Jane Lines, Gill Jeffery, Stuart Cohen and Martin Hellin with Harry the dog on the land behind homes in Thresher Rise and Queenborough Lane in Great Notley. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (40949-2)

Land which was previously an area of open space at the rear of homes in Thresher Rise and Queenborough Lane in Great Notley, is set to be used to provide up to seven allotments.

Stuart Cohen, of Thresher Rise, said the council had cut down the trees which housed nesting pheasants, finches and owls, and had been planted to stop some of the noise from the A131 and A120 running to the rear of the houses.

He said: "I want to form an association to stop this going on."

Angela Balcombe, clerk for the parish council, said about a year ago residents had asked them to provide somewhere for allotments.

She said: "Countryside are now preparing it for adoption by Braintree Council."

Mrs Balcombe said Braintree Council would own the land and would lease it to the parish council, which would then charge rent.

Published Thursday, February 10, 2005

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