CLARENDON Road residents have said they will do whatever it takes to protect a patch of recreational land in Trowbridge where major drainage work is due to start next week.

The Friends of Clarendon Circle, as it is referred to by families, previously fought plans to build two houses in May last year, which would have also seen the installation of an underground attenuation tank for public highway surface drainage.

Despite the application being refused by both Wiltshire Council and the Planning Inspectorate, work is now due to begin for the attenuation tank on behalf of the council, which believes it is a “necessary upgrade”.

Notice of the work, which is expected to last seven weeks, was only made common knowledge to residents this week, with many expressing deep concerns.

Martin Cassidy from the Friends of Clarendon Circle said the plans posted to residents show a map which includes the previously rejected houses, which makes people question why the drainage work needs to take place.

Mr Cassidy added: “It is all a bit of a mystery and there has been no consultation. We have events planned for the summer on the green and if they destroy it, then it won’t ever be used. It is a complete waste of time and it is totally inconsiderate to give us a week notice.”

The former tennis courts are owned by Ashford Homes who submitted the original planning application. Locals believe that a covenant is attached to the deeds on the surrounding houses which discourages any work to the land.

Bob Rogers, who has lived on Clarendon Road for nearly 40 years with his wife Margaret, believes that the risk of flooding is not a valid enough excuse to install the attenuation tank.

“I don’t understand why they say it is going to flood as it hasn’t flooded in the last 40 years,” Mr Rogers added. “These plans show houses on the land which isn’t correct as they were rejected so what else isn’t right on them?”Another resident Mary Stevens shares the same view. She said: “I think it is disgusting and it is well out of order to do it. Call it what you like but it isn’t right that we weren’t told. It was done very craftily.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We are planning to resurface this road, but before we can do that we will need to upgrade the drainage. This was scheduled some time ago and residents were informed."

“We will of course ensure any damage to the grassed area is repaired to a high standard.”

Work will start on Tuesday (May 26).