SCENIC views of woodland at the bottom of gardens will be carved up and replaced with a massive net to catch golf balls under plans for a new road.

That's the fear of residents in Didcot who rallied to voice their concerns about the new and final stretch of the town's Northern Perimeter Road this week.

Neighbours from Middle Furlong, Bush Furlong and The Frith met on Monday to share fears about noise pollution, destruction of trees and a 4,000sq m net.

The new stretch of highway will extend the eastern end of the Northern Perimeter Road, the A4130, from its junction with Lady Grove to Hadden Hill road to the south.

One resident of Bush Furlong told Monday's meeting the £12.5m scheme was "absurd".

The 30-year-old builder, who asked not to be named, said: "At the moment the area they’re planning to build the road is covered by mature trees and woodland that separates three residential streets from the golf course, which is at the back of our houses.

"This major scheme is being driven by the county council at the severe detriment to not only local residents but to natural wildlife.

"Not only would residents have the permanent major pollutant and noise from this major road immediately at their back doors but now they will have a massive net fence with posts at skyline height across the entire vision of back gardens."

Oxfordshire County Council’s proposal would see the strip of woodland removed and a 20m by 20m mesh net erected to stop stray balls from neighbouring Hadden Hill Golf Club from going into the new road.

The relief road is planned to be built just 15 metres from the houses.

The resident added: "The woodland area is home to many species of birds, reptiles and mammals such as red kites, bats, starlings, magpies, fox and deer.

"This net system is a severe detrimental approach on flying birds yet the county council has again not responded to concerns and only pushed harder to increase pressure on planning permission."

Didcot Town Council leader Bill Service said he sympathised with residents but reminded them that plans for the road had been in the pipeline for more than 16 years.

He said: "The town council has sent in our comments about the road and there are still things we are not happy about and would like to change so we can get the best deal for the residents.

"We are still not happy either with the lack of communication the town council has received from county councillors – we were not even told about the consultation in May."

A report has been compiled from a public consultation in May and will be brought to the county council’s planning committee in due course.

County spokesman Martin Crabtree said: "The county council is in the process of completing the environmental impact assessment, which looks at the impact of the proposed road scheme, covering noise, pollution, wildlife and landscape impacts, and direct impacts on local residents.

"This will also recommends any mitigation measures to address the effects – for example fencing and tree planting to reduce noise."