PEOPLE living in a small cul-de-sac have united against development proposals in their fight to save a children's play area.

Youngsters could lose part of the grass verge they use to play on outside their homes in Valley Road, Northallerton, because of plans to create car parking spaces.

The proposals form part of a joint venture between Yuill Homes and Broadacres Housing Association to build 75 homes on the former prison gardens site.

The Valley Road development, which has already been granted outline planning permission by Hambleton District Council, has been criticised by residents.

Yuill Homes has submitted revised plans to improve access to the development by widening the road at the opening of the cul-de-sac, resulting in some residents losing parking facilities. To overcome the problem the plans include creating six parking spaces along the verge.

Michelle Smales, of Valley Road, said she was not against the housing development, but against the plans to destroy their green area. She said: "None of us want to see it go. It is a large area, with trees, that local resident have maintained for years.

"We are a close community and many of us have children who play on the green together. It would be a huge loss for us and we feel strongly about fighting to save it."

Neighbour Sue Marshall said: "We only found out about the amended plans the other day and it has come as a shock. We absolutely do not want to see any of our grass verge go."

A Yuill Homes spokesman said yesterday: "The land at the head of the cul-de-sac is the most appropriate area of the development for providing car parking accessible to the residents of the adjoining houses.

"The provision of the parking area will help to provide an amenity for the residents whilst not resulting in a significant loss of the existing highway verge."

Residents from all ten houses in the cul-de-sac are writing letters of objection to the council. The development control committee is expected to meet on Thursday, May 15, to discuss the revised plans.