PLANS to order residents of park homes to remove hedges, wooden sheds, and fences are set to go ahead despite widespread opposition.

Epping Forest District Council is due to impose tighter fire regulations on the district's mobile home parks following new national guidelines.

If the rules are enacted, residents will have to remove all wooden sheds within six months, as well as all hedges or fences within three metres of a home.

Shenagh Williams, 55, of Abridge Park, off London Road, Abridge,gathered a petition signed by almost every resident when the new rules were first announced for discussion earlier this year.

She said: “I'd be very unhappy if this went through. I'm still very much against it- it's discrimination. There's people on this park who are old, there are people who are seriously ill and they don't need this stress.”

Many of Mrs Williams fellow residents agree the rules are a step too far.

David Riches, 75, said:“I just don't think regulation should be imposed retrospectively. We have gone way over the top in this country with health and safety. There's as much risk in a brick house as a park home.

“I really don't see the point in taking down a perfectly good shed on the basis of fire risk. It's much more likely the shed would catch fire because the house was on fire than the other way round.”

Kevin Fennell, 63, said: “Most people here have got fences because they like the privacy. I think they're going over the top with health and safety. Some people are selling up because they can't take it.”

Park owner Jimmy Wenman, who has just taken over Abridge Park, said he would go along with the new legislation.

He said: “You don't have to be a brain surgeon to see wooden houses create issues. I haven't read it all, but at the end of the day the law is the law. Health and safety has to be obeyed.”

The new licence conditions are due to be discussed at the district council's cabinet meeting next Monday (June 7).

If enacted, the council has recommended residents in financial difficulty should be offered a grant or loan towards removing property.