Bracknell Forest Homes had been planning to install four car parking spaces for residents in Ullswater, Great Hollands, on a patch of green land next to the road.

But 52-year-old David Clark had other ideas. When he saw contractors rolling up last Thursday morning he decided to take the matter into his own hands.

Backed by his fellow residents, he chained himself to a tree in the middle of the plot to prevent the workers from beginning the project.

He released himself later the same day, but says he is determined to stop the “pretty stupid” parking spaces and has vowed to carry on chaining himself up whenever any works vehicles turn up.

He said: “I am absolutely cheesed off with this. It’s a complete waste of money and I am livid — we all are here to be honest.

“We use the green space out there for youngsters to play on and in the summer we hold tea parties there. A better use of money would have been to build a park on it instead of getting rid of it.

“We are not actually gaining any new spaces as cars just park along the kerb where the spaces are supposed to be. It is not just me that is angry about this and I will keep on chaining myself to the tree whenever I see any workmen coming to do the work.” Pauline Moore, 66, whose house backs on to the green, said she is worried about cars making a noise in the morning when they start up.

She said: “It would be really inconvenient. I am disabled as well as I am paralysed down one side following a stroke so I need my rest. It is going to create a nuisance and I cannot see the point.” The work has now been put on hold.

In a statement, Bracknell Forest Homes said: “The proposal to create the new parking bays was based on resident feedback and site surveys to improve parking in the street. Whilst planning consent consultation and planning approval took place, we are sympathetic to residents’ views and we are contacting the local residents to seek their views on this work.”