HUNDREDS of residents in Newent have signed a petition to prevent the development of The Paddocks area near the lake.

To date, more than 850 people have signed the petition – and an application to grant village green status to the land off Old Maids Walk has been submitted. However, the Town Council is against this bid.

Resident Tracy Beaumont said: "It seems that the Town Council wants their offices behind the library, but previous to that there were plans to build it on The Paddocks.

"I think that's why they don't want to see village green status granted.

"There are a lot of issues here. "Once you build on it you've lost it."

Fellow resident Sandra Marcovecchio added: "It's a green area, we don't want to see anything built there. The Town Council says the area is safe in their hands but it could change in the future."

For the full story read The Forester.