ANGRY villagers at the Wyeside village of Redbrook want to stop a post and rail fence spoiling river views from their new millennium green.
But unfortunately the fence in question is part of an agreement between the Forest of Dean District Council and the owner of the fishing rights on the river bank below it.
And the St Briavels man is insisting the original terms are adhered to, although he has agreed to restrict the height of the fence to 30 inches.
Villagers are arguing that this agreement was valid while the original purpose of the land as a car park was going ahead but would now affect the amenity value of the green.
And after a meeting on Saturday they added in a statement: "The meeting also heard darker concerns voiced over the adverse effect that the fence would have from a safety perspective, with the potential for hindering life-saving efforts if someone did get themselves in trouble in the water.
"Villagers overwhelmingly rejected the idea of having any sort of fence along the riverbank and called for the Millennium Green Trust to challenge the legitimacy of the council's decision and raise the health and safety concerns of local people."
A spokesman for the Redbrook Contact Group which claims to represent the views of the community questioned the council's decision to go ahead with the "unwanted and unnecessary" fence.
Chairman Alan Purvis said: "It seems stupid to enforce a covenant granted when the area was intended as a car park and is now something totally different and a credit to us all."
In correspondence relating to the fence fishing rights owner Maurice Hudson says the purpose is to separate fishermen and the public for the safety and convenience of both and doubts if the view will be spoiled by it.