Great Yarmouth Borough Council has blocked off the entrances to the land in Gorleston between the town's Recreation Ground and Meadow Park.

The authority wants to build sheltered housing on the former allotment site, and said it will be "temporarily closed" while they carry out surveys "to understand the condition of the land".

The council says it expects the fences will be removed by Friday, February 27.

A sign announcing the temporary closure of woodland off East Anglian Way in Gorleston. (Image: Submitted)

The fencing is the latest chapter in the ongoing battle over the land which has been described as "the last truly wild place" in Gorleston.

Jess Rodgers, who is leading a campaign to protect the woodland, said: "As you could imagine, there is public outcry.

"This is a public's right of way, with many school and college children walking through there to get to school."

Jess Rodgers is campaigning to protect woodland near Gorleston Recreation Ground. (Image: Supplied)

She also expressed concerns for the impact of the surveys on wildlife which includes foxes and deer currently in mating season.

"Removing the natural growth and disturbing the foxes' dens poses significant dangers to both the adult foxes and their young," she said.

"Foxes are highly dependent on their dens for protection during these months and interference can lead to abandonment, death, or severe stress - this is blatant environmental destruction."

A petition to save the woodland, launched last year after the council’s local plan allocated the site for housing, has attracted the signatures of more than 1,500 people.

Residents are concerned that survey work at woodland in Gorleston could disturb the foxes living there. (Image: Supplied)

Workers have been at the former allotment site off East Anglian Way in Gorleston where Great Yarmouth Borough Council wants to build housing. (Image: Submitted)

The council is using government funding to carry out surveys to see if the land is suitable for “a small, sheltered” housing scheme of one- and two-bedroom bungalows.

It says there are no designs yet for the houses and that once the surveys are complete, there will be a public consultation.

The council also says the bungalows would provide much‑needed, accessible homes for older people who want to downsize, freeing up larger family houses.

© Eastern Daily Press