Landowners have been accused of turning a green space in Witney into an eyesore to help future bids for planning permission.

Concerns have been raised after a spiked metal fence was put up around land in Thorney Leys Road, west Witney, and diggers moved in to clear almost the entire site of trees. Landowner Abbey Developments Ltd, which was refused planning permission in January for two office buildings, is carrying out the work.

The firm was told by West Oxfordshire District Council that the site was earmarked as open land and not suitable for development.

The council has not received notice of any further planning applications, but residents living on the nearby Thorney Leys estate fear the site is deliberately being made to "look bad" so that it is considered more appropriate for development should any bids be made.

Warwick Robinson, chairman of the district council's lowlands planning subcommittee, said: "What they are doing, I understand, does not require planning permission, but what they are doing would not have any impact on whether or not we were to grant planning permission, were they to apply again."

John Goodward, 53, who lives in Thorney Leys, said: "It looks dreadful at the moment. We've had to put up with the ugly metal fence and now all the trees have been cut down.

"It's gone from being a green, wooded area where lots of us walked our dogs and kids played, to an eyesore.

"I believe the council does not agree with the site being developed, but it seems the landowner has a different plan."

Joyce Wood, also of Thorney Leys, said: "It's not appropriate for development. The road is already busy along here, and it would cause big problems."

District council planning officer Phil Shaw said the council had been contacted by several concerned residents, but the land was designated in the Local Plan as an open amenity space or landscape area, so the council would not support plans for its development.

Abbey Developments refused to comment.

The site, which borders the A40 on one side, has been used by travellers in the past and it is believed the fence has been put up to prevent access.

Mr Shaw said there was an on-going dispute between the council and the landowners over whether the fence needed planning permission or not.

He said none of the trees that had been chopped down were protected by protection orders, so the council could not stop them being felled.

The site is next to land known as Coral Springs which has had planning permission since 2001 for four office buildings and 180 car parking spaces.

In November, owners Minns Estates Ltd and Network Estates Ltd were refused permission for a 60-bed care home on part of the site.