UPTON residents say they're locked in a battle to save their front gardens, because their local council is planning to turn the land into a town square.

Lytchett Minster and Upton Town Council is consulting residents on proposals for Poole Road which, if agreed, would mean the council having to buy some private land.

Town councillor Ron Burns said the move was to protect the area from house-building projects. He said: "The council is totally opposed to having houses and flats on the area and we need to protect it."

However, local people say they will not sell up.

Poole Road resident Wendy Lucas said: "There is no way I am selling my land to make way for a glorified seating area, which will only attract anti-social behaviour and litter.

"Residents who own or rent the land have maintained it and looked after it. The only bits that are an eyesore are the plots owned by the town council who have woefully neglected it.

"The only way they’ll be able to get my land is if they try to rob me through the courts through a compulsory purchase."

Some of the 10 former allotment plots are owned by residents, others are owned by the council and rented to residents. Some are owned by a private developer.

Geoff Cooper, who owns the plot in front of his house, said: "I’d ask all residents in Upton to consider whether this is the best use of their money.

"We have Upton Country Park and Upton Heath on our doorsteps plus a large recreation ground – what added benefit will a ‘town square’ of this small size really bring?

"Why don’t they just sell this tiny piece of land to the rest of the residents who live here and between us we can make it nice again – and at no cost to tax payers."