HUNDREDS of campaigning residents have signed a petition to protect an orchard from development.

Dave Kennedy, chairman of the Irvine Road Area Residents’ Association, fears the orchard could be destroyed to make way for homes.

Mr Kennedy said developer Lexden Restorations had made an application to Colchester Council to have the status of the orchard changed to “development land”. It is currently registered as private open space.

Mr Kennedy said: “This gives the site some protection against development, as does its current tree preservation order and registration as an important natural environment.

“Should any of these protections be removed, clearly the site becomes at greater risk.

“As the developer has applied to have this registration changed to ‘development land’ we have now begun a Facebook and physical petition to ask for the support of our local community and make the council aware of the strength of local opposition to any development on the site.”

The total number of signatures on the paper petition is about 400.

It launched a week ago.

Signatories have included parents of pupils at nearby Hamilton Primary School.

Mr Kennedy said the petition would be handed into the council by the end of this week.

The Facebook petition also had many names on it, said Mr Kennedy, and this would be made clear to the council.

The petitions ask the council to reject changing the status of the orchard in its Local Development Framework, which sets out where homes can be built.

The orchard, hidden behind the back of Irvine Road, has lain unused for about 40 years, but was recently bought by Lexden Restorations.

It is thought to be one of only six or seven urban orchards left in Essex and be home to foxes, deer, hedgehogs, crested newts and rare fruit trees.

The Gazette tried to contact the director of Lexden Restorations, but he did not respond.