“The hypocrisy of the leader of a council that is trashing green spaces chairing a board promoting sustainability is nauseating".
“I’m devastated our council haven’t protected
it’s people and the environment from the developers, I feel completely ignored
by my concerns that have been swept under the carpet despite our legitimate
concerns”.
This is what Bradwell resident Jessica Mellor wrote
in a Facebook post responding to the news that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
had granted developers Seddon Homes permission to build eighty-five houses on
land to the north of Bradwell Hospital.
This will see one hundred and twenty trees
felled to make way for the houses, last year residents formed Save Newcastle’s
Green Sites to campaign to protect this and other threatened green spaces.
MS Mellor wrote to Peter Stepien, Landscaping
Officer at the borough council, protesting on behalf of the group at the plans
to fell trees on the Bradwell site.
His reply, as quoted in the Facebook post was: “I’m
afraid planning permission has been granted for this development. This includes
tree removal.”
A spokesperson for North Staffs Green Party said:
“granting planning permission to build on this site and destroying 120 trees in
the process represents a serious assault on a much-valued green space”.
Going on to add: “we fully support the efforts
of residents in Bradwell and other communities to defend green spaces that are
vital to their health and wellbeing and to preserving threatened nature”.
Describing her feelings about the loss to the
trees and green space Jessica Mellor writes in her Facebook post: “I am looking
to move home as I cannot stand and watch them tear down and destroy all those
tree’s alongside killing any animals who utilise the land, I have seen foxes,
squirrels, all sorts of birds there and they are losing their home and probably
their lives. It genuinely gives me anxiety and I am tearful and helpless at
this appalling decision.”
On the same day Jessica Mellor wrote her heartfelt
Facebook post about the impact felling trees at Bradwell hospital will have on
her wellbeing Simon Tagg, leader of the borough council and Councillor Joe
Porter were named as Chair and Vice Chair of the newly formed Staffordshire
Sustainability Board.
In a Twitter post Councillor Porter writes that
‘Across
Staffordshire all our councils are working together in partnership to tackle
climate change and recover nature’.
The spokesperson
for North Staffs Green Party said: “the hypocrisy of the leader of a council
that is trashing green spaces chairing a board promoting sustainability is nauseating.
They are not working to recover nature and are doing nothing to tackle climate
change”.
Save
Newcastle’s Green Sites have produced a hard-hitting YouTube video highlighting
the impact felling to trees at Bradwell will have and urging residents of
Newcastle to respond to the public consultation on the council’s Strategic Options
for green spaces.
It can
be watched at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_sfv8DvoXo
They
have also launched a petition of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council website,
accessible at:
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