RESIDENTS on the Kingsdown estate who have maintained a lawn area for youngsters to play ball games on for the past five years are up in arms after being told they are ‘trespassing’.

Four years ago, Emma Dennehy and her husband created a lawn space between the edge of the Barratt Homes development and the M5 to stop youngsters playing ball games on the streets and have maintained the area free of charge for the use of the community.

Mrs Dennehy said she was shocked when she received a letter last week from the land owners, Hallam Land Management, which told them to stop cutting the lawn as it was a form of trespassing.

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“We don’t do it for any personal gain, it is for the community to use and we has been for four years,” Mrs Dennehy said. “The kids play ball games, people walk their dogs.

“I received a letter from Hallam Land Management and I posted it on social media and since I have been bombarded with messages of support. 

“I do not see how it can be trespassing – there are no signs, the area is not fenced off, and it has never been an issue before, so why now?”

One of Emma’s neighbours, Paul Pursey, said he felt the letter was ‘disgusting’ that they may be forced to lose the lawn area. 

“There is nowhere else for the kids to run about, it is good for people to walk their dogs,” he said. “The rest of the area is just overgrown, they only maintain it what, once a year? Maybe they want us to stop because it shows how shoddy their upkeep is.”

The letter also said that unless Mrs Dennehy removed a wooden structure on the land within a week, contractors would dismantle it and charge the couple for the costs.

Mrs Dennehy explained the structure in question is a den created by her husband with the help of their son and his friends.

“About three weeks ago my son and his friends, with the help of my husband who is a builder, have created a wooden den,” Mrs Dennehy said.

“We have been ordered to take this down – they say it is for health and safety reasons but they’re our own children – we wouldn’t let them in there if it was not completely safe.

Mrs Dennehy said it kept them out of trouble and she was determined to fight to keep it. 

“It is somewhere for them to hang out and keeps them away from the Xbox which is what we are always told kids are supposed to be doing,” she said. “It is locked at night so not just anybody can go in there.”

Hallam Land Management’s letter to Mrs Dennehy said: “It has come to our attention that a small wooden structure has been constructed on an area between the Barratt Homes development and the M5 on the Kingsdown estate. 

“We are reliably informed by our contractors that you have constructed the structure and that you are also mowing a large area of land at the front of your property. 

“Both areas are under the control of Hallam Land Management. 

“We hereby request that the wooden structure is removed immediately, as it not only causes a health and safety hazard, but is on land not under your ownership, and is therefore a form of trespassing. In addition HLM request you cease the cutting of the grass, as again it is not within your ownership.

“If the structure is not removed by Monday, May 22, we will commission our contractors to dismantle it and you will be liable for the cost. 

“We trust that steps will be made to remove the wooden structure immediately, and that you will cease to maintain the grassland area.”

Chairman of Bridgwater Without Parish Council Robbie Davies said he was looking to arrange a meeting between the parties.

“I have been in touch with Hallam Land Management and hopefully we can find some mutual ground. 

“They are keen to resolve this to everyone’s satisfaction,” Mr Davies said. 

“Personally I cannot see a problem and think what the residents have done has enhanced the area.”

At the time of going to press, Mrs Dennehy had not removed the wooden structure.