Furious parents have slammed a 'killjoy' council for stopping children from playing football in a local park by blocking a goal with a £3,500 fence.
Brian Reeby, who has lived alongside Headweir Road park in Cullompton for decades, says he painted the outline of a goal on his garage for children to play football with.
However, local residents are furious at Mid Devon District Council after it erected a diagonal rail alongside the corner of the park against the outline of the goal.
It follows a a row between children using the park and a minority of neighbours who 'don’t like balls being kicked over to their garden'.
Mr Reeby said the police were called to the park on one occasion, before the council installed the new rail and higher fencing.
The rail erected in front of Brian Reeby's garage in Headweir Road park, Cullompton, has sparked anger among local residents
He added: 'I painted that goal on my garage about 35 years ago for my son.
'I painted the goal so they would kick the ball in the corner of the park instead of near the road where they could damage cars and pick them up in the road.
'My son is now 40 and is the Covid-19 research finance director for the National Statistic Office, so he’s no bloody idiot. The goal has been there ever since, and people have loved it.
'We’ve had little competitions, and all the kids come down here now, and they have picnics, and God knows what else here while they play against the garage.'
He believes the minority of neighbours complained to the council following escalating tensions with children using the park.
The father said: 'After it, all went quiet for a while; the next thing we know is that a fence and a wooden rail has been built.
'I’ve got no problem with fence and the signs put up saying ‘no ball games are not enforceable.'
He does, though, have an issue with the wooden rail, citing concerns little children can get their fingers caught in the side of the fence.
The cost of the park's maintenance was taken on by Cullompton Town Council four years ago when Mid Devon was looking to dispose of play areas.
Residents created a petition to save the popular park from closure four years ago.
Barbara Gozna, who started the campaign, said her two boys used to play football in the park and have been left upset they are no longer able to do so.
She said: 'Some of the neighbours don’t like balls being kicked over to their garden and children apparently looking into their property, but it’s the same for all residents living along here.
Cullompton Town Council recently installed new equipment within the park, but a popular outline of a goal in the corner of the play area is now inaccessible
'These houses have been there for 30 odd years. My dad has lived in the end one for 20 plus years, and he’s never had any problems.
'If they kick the ball over into the garden, you just kick it back.'
Ms Gozna added that there were alternative ways to address the issue aside from building the rail.
She continued: 'It’s good for them to be able to be outside and active; we all want active children, but if you take away
