Allotment holders have been told they have until the middle of September to remove their produce from land north-west of Goddard Place to make way for six three and four-bedroom homes.

Mid Suffolk District Council say the land, which it owns, was given planning permission in the 1960s and forms part of a housing development which was never completed.

But villagers are outraged by the move, arguing that under the 1908 Smallholdings and Allotments Act the council has a duty to provide allotments where there is a need.

Steve Mayhew, who has had an allotment on the site for 13 years, said they were prepared to fight.

"I am very disappointed about this, especially in the current climate with the rising costs of food, this is a lifeline for me and my extended family. This will be a huge loss to the whole community, it is the only thing we have left," he said.

Geoff Fairclough, clerk to the parish council, said the land had been used as allotments for decades.

"They are the last community facility we have – there is no post office, no shop, no school, no community hall.

"The land, once lost, will be lost forever," he said.

"We really want to fight this and will be writing to the council over the way this has been handled."

John Matthissen, ward member for Harleston, said the council was simply modernising the site's 40-year-old planning permission.

He is now organising a petition for residents who want to see allotments retained in the village.

He said: "I want to see some of the money from the sale of this land used to buy a piece of land for new allotments in the village."

A spokeswoman for the district council said the land was never formal allotment land.

She added: "The planning application will go back to committee for redetermination in light of the impending Core Strategy and then the land will be offered for sale by tender."

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