RESIDENTS are up in arms about plans to turn a council-owned woodland into a private garden.

Plans to turn the woodland into a residential garden have been submitted by the adjacent property in Church Road.

Jai Singh-Vaghela intends to buy the piece of land in Smithills if the planning application is approved.

But neighbours are worried about the impact the change would have on local wildlife such as bats and hedgehogs.

The have raised safety concerns, saying that the pathway adjacent to the site would not get as much light if a new fence goes up.

Now, residents could come together to buy the woodland off the council themselves to stop the changes from going ahead.

Paul Dutton, who lives opposite the property, has expressed an interest in buying the piece of land, saying he would be willing to spend several thousand pounds to make sure it is kept as a woodland.

He said: “If the council are that desperate to get rid of that piece of land, I would like to buy it and leave it as a woodland. I just spent an absolute fortunate on the house opposite. The woodland is part of the reason I chose to move here 20 years ago."

Mr Dutton worries that if the small triangle of land becomes a residential garden, the value of his own property will fall.

Paul Demullet who lives on Bernside Road also said that the woodland is part of the reason he moved to the area more than two decade ago.

His primary concern is safety of vulnerable people walking through a dimly-lit ginnel.

He said: “If they put this fencing up, you’re not going to be able to see if anybody is there. It’s just not right what they are doing.”

Mr Demullet dismissed the plans as a "land grab" to raise the value of the adjacent property.

His next-door neighbour Doug Cole, who lives 25 yards away from the woodland, was mostly concerned about the impact on wildlife.

He intends to speak against the application at a planning committee meeting on Thursday when councillors are due to make a decision.

Town hall planners have recommended that councillors approve the application saying that trees will be protected by tree preservation orders.

The applicant, Mr Singh-Vaghela, was contacted but declined to comment.