ACTION is being taken to preserve a picturesque village green which people have been driving across and parking on. Work is due to start shortly at Palgrave, near Diss, to prevent further damage being caused by vehicles on the land.

ACTION is being taken to preserve a picturesque village green which people have been driving across and parking on.

Work is due to start shortly at Palgrave, near Diss, to prevent further damage being caused by vehicles on the land.

Although privately owned, the village green is managed by Mid Suffolk District Council, who has carried out extensive consultation to decide how best to answer the needs of residents and the environment.

At the request of Palgrave Parish Council, the district council has prepared a scheme that has the support of the parish council and will be jointly funded by both councils. It will involve creating marked routes across the green, and closing off other tracks that have been used, and protecting some of the verges.

A district council spokeswoman said: “The green is an important part of the village. It is at the heart of the conservation area. We must act now to protect it from further damage or the character of the green could be lost forever.''

District councillor Charles Michell said: “I am delighted that a decision has been made about the future of this rare and historic green. Long consultation, conciliation and hard work have gone into this scheme to preserve the green, which is vital to the village and to our heritage.''

Palgrave Parish Council has been concerned for many years about damage to the village green. At first, the main problem was the formation of unauthorised tracks. More recently, damage, especially during wet seasons, from the sheer number of vehicles traversing or parking on the green has been too great for it to regenerate naturally.

Work is due to commence during the week beginning May 3.