Residents Dismayed as Developer Begins Work on Threatened Trees.

 

Residents in Bradwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, have expressed dismay as developer Seddon Homes began to carry out ‘work’ on trees they are campaigning to protect.

Around 120 trees on land to the North of Bradwell Hospital are under threat due to plans to build 85 houses on the site.

In a letter to Michael Jefferson, Managing Director of Seddon Homes local Jessica Mellor who lives on Knype Way in Bradwell writes of the impact the threat to the trees has had on her, saying she has had ‘Watership Down’ nightmares as a result.

MS Mellor goes on to say “The news genuinely gives me anxiety. I work from home and have the privilege of enjoying those trees along with the wildlife they bring to me every day”.

Writing about the feeling towards the development in the area she says, “our community strongly objects to these proposals and would like to see the tree lines retained with landscaping proposals being made around the tree’s and enhancing them”.

An issue of particular concern it the potential impact of loss of a vital habitat will have on wildlife, MS Mellor writes about the need for any landscaping on the site to “protect the birds and the mammals, who will have their homes destroyed” if current plans go ahead.

Residents have also expressed concern about increased traffic noise and a loss of privacy if the trees are felled.

Work on the trees on the Bradwell Hospital site has taken place over recent days, this, it is suggested, is to remove dead growth.

Residents have expressed concern that this has taken place before the landscaping proposals have been approved and that the work was done during the nesting season.

North Staffs Green Party have supported the campaign to protect the trees, a spokesperson said, “it is worrying that developers have started to work on the trees before public concerns about the landscaping proposals have been fully considered”.

Adding that, “we support the campaign for this important wildlife habitat to be protected and call on Seddon Homes to take no further action until the concerns of residents have been taken fully into account”.

Jessica Mellor writes that her letter to Seddon Homes MD Michael Jefferson is “one of many attempts” by local people “to preserve the tree line and protect the animals living in it. I hope you can find this in your heart from one human to another to investigate this and listen to our cries for it not to happen.”

In a reply to MS Mellor’s letter Seddon Homes said they were ‘working through’ the comments that have been made by residents ‘along with all other matters relating to our application with the local planning authority and all points will be duly considered’.

The proposals for the site are still open for comments from residents and other concerned parties, details can be found at:

https://publicaccess.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/.../applicat...

The reference for the proposal is 21/00470/REM.