RESIDENTS opposed to a development on a former bowling green have criticised a council for fencing it off.

The Elvet Residents' Association, in Durham, is fighting plans by Durham City Council and Durham University's plans to build 90 apartments and 25 houses at Elvet Waterside, including the city's soon-to-be replaced baths.

The scheme will see the Racecourse Park, which has not been a bowling green since 2001 developed, but the association wants the land to be open public space.

Association chairman Jonathan Lovell said the council had now blocked access to the site.

The council say that the decision to board up the park was taken in 2001 when they withdrew from the area. This has surprised residents who have witnessed the area being mown and maintained until relatively recently.

"The council went on to say 'recent press articles seemed to infer that people were inappropriately entering the site, unbeknown to us ... for that reason we felt it necessary to seal up the entrance where a gate had been removed'.

"Residents point out that there has never been any restriction to access to the site.''

Mr Lovell said the council gave permission for a marquee on the green during June's regatta and sent workers to tidy and cut the grass.

A council spokesman said that the site was blocked off because glass and syringes were found. "One unknown party entered the site recently and undertook some grass-cutting.

"We have a duty to protect the council and residents from any liability from people entering the site and hurting themselves."