A community has spoken out against plans to turn its “village green” into a works compound for up to two years.

A developer has been given permission to create a ring-fenced compound in Manzil Way gardens, East Oxford, for 24 months.

The compound will stand while a three-storey block of student flats, a replacement police office and toilets are built in Cowley Road.

Local residents, councillors and users of the nearby mosque, have rallied against the plan as they claim it will deprive East Oxford of one of its few green spaces.

They are also upset the spot will be out of action just a week after it was confirmed that, subject to funding, the Cowley Road Carnival, will return to the road this year. The green area is used as a place for people to relax during the carnival, which is the county’s biggest free public event.

Chairman of the east area committee, Nuala Young, said: “This is unacceptable.This is our village green.

“The gardens are a focal point for East Oxford and the whole community is pulling together to try to save these gardens from destruction.”

Ms Young drafted a petition for local residents and Muslims to sign ahead of their prayer meeting on Friday.

Chairman of the Oxford Central Mosque Fazal Hussain said: “We can appreciate a building has to go up, but it should not cause so much disruption.

“These gardens are very popular for Muslims, non-Muslims, children, the elderly and people eating their lunch or having a break from their shopping. Let’s hope the council considers other options for the site.”

Mr Hussain and Andrew Crawford, finance manager for the Restore mental health charity in Manzil Way, have also voiced concerns that works traffic could bring the already congested Cowley Road to a standstill.

Iffley Fields councillor Elise Benjamin said the work compound should be sited in Union Street car park or St Bartholomew’s Medical Centre instead.

She added: “If this was in an inner city location, the developer would have to carry out all the work on the site.”

Developer Tom Crampton Smith, owner of Crampton Smith Properties, said he hoped work would begin in June and said it would be completed “within 18 months” rather than two years.

He said: “I don’t think we’re going to be able to compromise on moving it because I don’t think it’s practical. We need the compound for a crane.

“I can understand them being disappointed that they’re going to lose the land for a while, but in the long term it will provide a huge gain for the community.”

He added he would look into the possibility of delaying the start of work until after this year’s Cowley Road Carnival.