ANGRY residents are protesting against plans to turn a recreation area into allotments.

Over 140 objections have been sent to Braintree Council over its proposal to build 35 plots on land off Achilles Way and Ajax Close in Braintree.

Around 4,900 square metres of land will be fenced off using two-metre high fences, and protestors calling themselves Save Open Spaces marked off the land themselves on Saturday to highlight how much recreation space could be lost.

Bryan Baker, of Ajax Close, said it has been public open space since the mid-1970s used by children and dog walkers.

"It is a piece of land well used by the local residents to the extent we've got over 120 objections on the council's website at the moment," he said.

"Our point is we are not against allotments at all. It's just the wrong place. The council has been offered four acres of land at Baytree Farm but they have refused that."

See tomorrow's Braintree and Witham Times for full story.