A HOUSING association has been criticised for stopping children playing outside their homes in Colwall.

Elgar Housing ruled that no ball games can be played on a grass area near homes in Brookside and Chevenham Close.

However, parish councillor Jim Beard, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said children had played safely on the green for as long as he could remember.

He received a letter signed by 22 residents who are unhappy at the new ruling.

Mr Beard said: "Parents can't be expected to watch their children every minute of the day. The green is visible from the houses so it's always been somewhere safe for them to play." He said tenants had also been warned that allowing their children to cause trouble in nearby areas would be considered as breaching their tenancy agreements.

Speaking at a meeting of Colwall Parish Council on Wednesday, Mr Beard said he believed the housing association had acted after reports of children shouting, swearing and disrupting the estate.

"There are certain children who cause trouble, but not the majority," he said.

"It would appear the actual offenders do not even live in the Elgar properties in question."

Council vice chairman John Mills said he did not feel the ruling was appropriate. "If there are two or three children causing the problems then it is those children that should be punished, not every child in the area," he added.

Mike Shaw, housing manager with Elgar Housing Association, said: "In response to complaints about children playing football and causing a nuisance, we've written to our tenants to advise them with regard to their tenancy agreements. We've also been in contact with a neighbouring housing association who are experiencing similar problems. We hope to resolve this issue in discussion with residents."