A BAND of angry residents are fighting plans that would see them lose part of a green haven. Three householders in Heron Close, Alton, want to take five metres of the public green behind their homes to extend their gardens and care for some trees that they say have been neglected. But residents living in neighbouring Finches Green have said this will take away most of the flat surface of the green, leaving children with nowhere safe to play. They also fear that the extra garden space could, in the future, be used to build houses on, a claim that has been categorically denied by the applicant. Around 10 residents attended a meeting of Alton Town Council's planning and transportation committee last week, to voice their opposition to the plans. Jacqueline Martin, who has lived in Finches Green for more than 30 years, said: "It is a very good place for children to play. I have watched many generations of children play there." Neighbour and Herald employee Peter Cansfield added: "As far as I am concerned, this is an integral part of the Finches Green street scene. When the whole of the estate was first designed the idea was to have areas of green land around. "It would be tragic to lose it. To take an area that is used by the whole community and put it over to private use is wrong. The children will not be able to play football because there is no other flat area. The children make a den under the trees and they also ferret around for various pieces of natural history, bugs and everything." His wife Sue, also a Herald employee, said: "I just want to underline that this is the thin end of the wedge. Take this bit of green away and how much more will be taken from our estate and other estates?" Joan Bennett, who has lived in Finches Green for 30 years with her husband, Douglas, said: "I am quite upset that somebody is trying to have it. It is obviously not just for residential gardens - it is going to be built on. I can see it coming." Lindsay Popham said: "We are not asking for the world. We just want a little patch of green at the end of the road where we know our children are safe. We don't need to worry about children being knocked over because people drive up there slowly - it is a turning circle." When the committee was first told about the plans to extend the gardens in January this year, it supported the householders as long as they took no more than five metres of the open space. Hampshire County Council, which owns the land, approached the council for its views after the householders applied to extinguish the highway rights across the parcel of the land they wanted to include in their gardens. The committee's support, in principle, led Michael Chance to apply to East Hampshire District Council, on behalf of the three residents, for planning permission to change the use of five metres of the green from open space to garden. But after hearing the objections from the neighbouring residents, town councillors decided to object to the plans. Mayor Paddy Mendham said: "As a council, we have always been against public amenity space being taken over by private individuals, especially when we have such representation from the local neighbourhood. "It is not a piece of land that is not in use. It is not a piece of land that needs to find a home. If whoever is responsible for these trees is not dealing with them and treating them as they should we can make a representation to them." Pam Jones said: "It is obvious to me that this is a very selfish decision for the benefit of three households to the detriment of all those in Finches Green. Personally, I am not in favour of it." Speaking after the meeting, Mr Chance said that the residents had no intention of building on the land. He said: "What they want to do is to extend their gardens by five metres to give them a little bit more garden than they have now. Two people want to put vegetable gardens in there and the third person is going to lay it to grass. "Originally we wanted seven metres but when Hampshire County Council asked the town council before, they said they would not have a problem with five metres, so that is why we are asking for five metres. That will get the trees inside so that they can be maintained properly. "It is puzzling that the (town) council were happy the first time but they have now voted against it." The application will now be determined by the district council. To comment on the plans write to case officer Diane Sinkinson quoting application number F.49392/FUL. Meanwhile, county council staff are still dealing with the application to extinguish highway rights. Sarette Martin, a spokesman for the council, said: "The consultations are nearly complete, with no objections to date. There was a delay in procedures because the original area to be extinguished was amended following discussions with Alton Town Council. "When all replies to my consultations are received and subject to there being no objections, the application can proceed to magistrates court for final decision."