A GROUP of allotment holders are objecting to plans by St John Ambulance Brigade to build a fence around their headquarters.

Gardeners at Marske, east Cleveland, claim plans for the security fence will cut off all vehicular access to their vegetable plots and farmers shop.

Eric Boon, the treasurer of Marske Allotments Association said: "We have a workers' co-operative shop which was established in 1953 which sells fertiliser and everything to do with gardening at cut price.

"Apparently they are going to put a small gate in the fence but we need vehicle access to the premises.

"We have 25 tonne loads delivered to the shop every six weeks or so. It will also mean nobody can park on our site.

"It would stop anyone using the shop and we would have to shut it completely.''

Mr Boon said: "It's causing a bit of an uproar. We have 260 allotments, so 260 allotment holders and about 1,500 associate members who use the shop. It would be a loss to the Marske community.''

Sue Preston, clerk to Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, said councillors wished St John Ambulance bosses had consulted them before making their application for a replacement fence for one torn down by vandals.

"We got a planning application for a 2.4m fence along the edge of St John's land. This was the first we knew of it.

"They did not write to us before. Quite a lot of people in Marske are concerned about it,'' she said.

John Welsh, chief executive of the North Yorkshire and Tees St John Ambulance, said the brigade did not want to cause problems.

He said: "This is an issue which has to be addressed and will be addressed at some point. At the end of the day, we are sensitive to the situation. The last thing our membership wants to do is fall out with the allotment holders.''

A 300 name protest petition has been sent to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which will consider the fence application.