FAMILIES who oppose new homes being built on Gloucester Park are angry contractors have installed a 7ft-tall hoarding blocking their access to the site.

The fencing has been put up as builders prepare to demolish buildings in the park and construct hundreds of homes in their place.

Residents living in Roodegate said the fence next to their homes was put up last week without warning.

Andrew Buxton, 42, said: “This fence is now blocking off a public foot path and has closed our access to Gloucester Park.

“There has been no public notice put up to say this would happen.

“We feel we should have been consulted.”

His neighbour, Mark Boyden, 45, lives directly next to the fence and says it has blocked off his gate.

He said: “I cycle to work everyday and used the gate to get my bike in and out.

“The fence is blocking off the area outside the front of my house.

“So if a fire engine or ambulance had to get down here in an emergency, it wouldn’t be able to get very close.

“I bought my house because it was by the park and now I can’t even get into the park.”

The development by Barratt Wilson Bowden forms part of Basildon Council’s £1billion masterplan for the town, which includes building 375 homes near Roodegate and 144 town houses off Broadmayne.

More than 1,200 people objected to the development when plans were submitted, but Basildon Council passed the application in June.

The site is one of several parcels of land Basildon Council is selling off to pay for the £38million Sporting Village in Gloucester Park.

Hundreds of residents have held protests against the issue, claiming they want the sites retained for recreational use.

Leigh Johnson, senior development manager for Barratt Homes Eastern Counties, said: “The hoarding was put up in accordance with a demolition management plan approved by Basildon Council in July.

“It has been erected in advance of the demolition works, in response to public concerns over safety and potential vandalism following the swimming pool’s closure.

“Neighbours were notified of the proposals in May as part of a 21-day consultation, carried out just after the demolition application was submitted, but no objections were received at the time.”