Great Yarmouth Borough Council says they want to build sheltered houses for older people on land in Gorleston between the town's Recreation Ground and Meadow Park. 

But the scheme has incensed residents who are appalled about the potential loss of wildlife. 

The land is owned by the council and was once part of allotments which closed in the 1990s. 

Gorleston residents on a community clean-up at the woodland off East Anglian Way. (Image: Supplied)

Since then it has become home to apple and cherry trees, blackberry and gooseberry bushes, as well as foxes, badgers, bats, hedgehogs and muntjac deer. 

The council says they have secured 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. 

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

The community, however, has accused the council of ignoring them and attempting to force through the plans.  

A petition to save the woodland, launched last year after the council’s local plan allocated the site for up to 70 houses, has attracted more than 1,500 people and the backing of local MP Rupert Lowe. 

Jess Rodgers is campaigning to save woodland on a site in Gorleston where Great Yarmouth Borough Council wants to build bungalows. (Image: Supplied)

Jess Rodgers, who has been leading the campaign, said: "The council is supposed to be serving the community, but they are refusing to listen.  

“We’re proud of the place and we want to look after it. We’re really keen to preserve it for generations to come.” 

Some of the bags of rubbish collected by residents at the woodland area near East Anglian Way in Gorleston. (Image: Supplied)

Over the past year, the community has been organising clean-ups at the woodland, removing 100 bags and two skips' worth of rubbish including fly-tipped material. 

Ms Rodgers said she has drawn up a proposal for the area – which would include clearing pathways and access – but the council will not meet with her. 

A community litter-pick at the woods off East Anglian Way in Gorleston. (Image: Supplied)

The council's announcement about the proposal prompted a cascade of comments on social media, not one of them supporting the plans.

The chief concern is the loss of wildlife with locals describing the place as the last pocket of woodland in Gorleston.

They say they use the land for dog walking and quiet walks.

One said: “It's a beautiful place to walk to get away from the hustle and bustle for a bit and good for people's mental health as you can explore, forget or think for a minute.”

A deer at woodland in Gorleston. (Image: Supplied)

Some say there is already enough housing from Bradwell to Hopton, while others have accused the council of "pretending to listen" while ignoring residents.

The council say that providing houses for people who want to downsize can “free up family homes nearby”.

They also said that any future development would meet strict environmental standards, “including improving biodiversity by at least 10pc”.

Residents, however, mocked the idea you can "increase biodiversity" by building over an existing wildlife habitat.

© Eastern Daily Press