A RESIDENTS' group is horrified that a community space in Baildon has suddenly been marred by the arrival of an industrial-style spiked security fence beside the railway which borders it.

Members of Hoyle Court and Kirklands Residents' Association convinced Bradford Council to hand over an area of green space at the top of Kirklands Avenue two years ago.

And the group has a 25-year lease at a peppercorn rent for the third of an acre where many events have taken place.

But last week workmen and diggers moved in to clear the overgrown railway banking and installed the six foot high galvanised steel fence.

Moira Orwin, chairman of HCKRA, has written to Network Rail to express the group's anger and upset.

"To the front of the fence is an open grassed area much used by the residents," she said.

"The fence now destroys the image of the avenue.

"All forms of vegetation have been destroyed, leaving the fence standing stark and bare. No attempt has been made to leave sufficient space to allow the replanting of shrubbery, blackberry and raspberry plants.

"It is understood that safety is paramount and that considerations need to be made around such an area as a railway track but the material used is totally out of keeping with the area."

She suggested it should at least be painted green.

HCKRA member Trina Garnett added: "We were shocked and upset to see contractors remove all shrubs and greenery and most of the trees along the railway track adjacent to the field,

"Residents were not notified in advance let alone consulted. We are upset about the way the fencing has been put as well as the loss of many established plants and shrubbery which created a natural wildlife area.

"One of the elderly residents on Kirklands Avenue has collected blackberries from there for 60 years until they were ripped up last week."

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Following numerous repairs on the fence over the years, it needed to be completely replaced.

"When boundary fences reach this condition we carry out an assessment which takes into account the likelihood of trespass and how busy the railway is.

"The report showed some incidents of trespass in the last 12 months, so we have fitted the taller palisade fencing to deter people from risking not only their own lives, but those of the travelling public.

"While the fence may look stark now, in time the vegetation will grow back to help mask the fencing as it previously did, and we will of course inspect the fence if residents have concerns about the standard of work that has been carried out, with a promise of action should the quality of the work have fallen below our high standards."