PLANS to move allotments in Malvern to a green space in the town to allow the cemetery to expand have been hit by a wave of protest from residents.

Malvern Town Council has applied to Malvern Hills District Council for a change of use at Greenfields Road in Malvern to allow part of the allotments at Madresfield Road to move there. This in turn would free up space for the cemetery, which is fast running out of space for burial plots, to expand.

But the council has now received a petition containing more than 80 signatures from residents opposing the move. They say it would deprive youngsters -- who use the space regularly -- of a safe area to play in and add to parking problems in the area.

They argue that the nearest play area otherwise is in Lower Howsell Road, which would mean going over a dangerous railway crossing at Jamaica Road, where several people have been killed previously.

Some argue that an adjacent field in Jamaica Crescent would be more suitable as it is not used as much. Thirty-two-year-old Janine Ruff, of Jamaica Road, said: "I've been here 30 years and used to play there when I was a child.

"It's a very nice area for them down there and all that will be gone -- I think it's wrong."

Under the council's proposal -- due to be determined by planners in August -- the central area of the open space at Greenfields Road would become allotments, with the north-eastern end remaining for use by dog walkers as well as partly being for parking spaces.

Maria Hooper, aged 42, of Greenfields Road, Malvern, said: "I'm concerned because it's another play area being taken away from the children.

"I'm not happy with my children crossing a raiilway line to get to the nearest one and I think there'll be a lot of sad children around if it goes."

However, town council chairman Michael Selby said the authority disputed the claim that children used the area all the time.

He added: "It's one of the worst areas for trying to walk around because of the way the dogs are allowed to deposit around. It's an area where we feel we could put some allotments and allow the area for the public to walk and exercise their dogs -- we can certainly meet them half way."

The matter is due to be debated at a meeting of the town council at 7pm tonight. At the same meeting, councillors are also set to discuss a Government inspector's refusal of the authority's plans to sell the former allotment site in Elgar Avenue.

Inspectors said the council had below average land available for allotments, there was a waiting list of 26 people wanting allotments and it had not sufficiently advertised the area for such purpose.