Campaigners fighting to
protect trees on land adjacent to Bradwell Hospital have put up a banner to tell
developers they haven’t given up their struggle.
The trees have been
under threat since early last year due to plans by developers Seddon to build
85 homes on the site. Residents fearing the loss of a green space valued by the
community have joined with Save Newcastle’s Green Sites to oppose the plans.
The Banner, which is
twenty feet long and reads ‘Save Our Trees- All Life Matters was put up
overnight and is clearly visible to passing traffic.
Bradwell is only one of
several sites including the former Keele Golf Course that have come under
threat of development as part of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s plans to
meet increased need for housing in the area.
Campaigners fear that
in doing so habitats that are vital to wildlife will be lost, this will have a detrimental
impact on already declining biodiversity. They are also concerned at the harm
losing a green space they use for recreation will do to the wellbeing of people
living nearby.
A spokesperson for Save
Newcastle’s Green Sites said, ‘we recognize the need for more housing in the
borough, but the council are going about delivering it in the wrong way’.
Adding that ‘the first
options should be to build on brownfield sites and repurpose existing buildings
that are standing empty’.
The group has
repeatedly challenged the council on the way it has conducted the consultation
into its ‘strategic options’ for building housing in the borough, particularly
in relation to how difficult they have made it for people to raise objections.
Speaking about the
banner the spokesperson said it was a ‘demonstration of our determination to
work with communities to protect the green spaces they value from thoughtless
development’.
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