Local residents are objecting to plans to fell six protected Beech trees in the Alderley Edge Conservation area to provide room for temporary parking.
Residents are opposed to a planning application to cut down the mature trees, which are over 100 years old, so the area can be dug out and be used for temporary off-street parking for contractors whilst a neighbouring property off Macclesfield Road is redeveloped.
Sarah Shorland said "This would be a brutal and irrevocable decision if these healthy, well established beech trees were felled merely to enable private contractors to park on a temporary and short-term scale. In essence the proposal involves 100 year old trees being destroyed to facilitate a one-off parking period to redevelop an adjoining private property. If such a proposal were allowed it would create a damaging and dangerous precedent giving leeway to others to seek to do the same in an already challenged natural environment
"There are perfectly feasible alternatives to this destruction to create temporary parking. Contractors could park on the Badgers Hollow site itself which is extensive and surrounding low grade undergrowth could easily be cleared.
"i would strongly urge you to reject this high handed and ill advised proposal and allow these six mature trees to continue to thrive and enhance the Conservation Area and local landscape. The trees concerned are protected, having both Conservation Area and specific individual TPO protection. They are mature, around 100 years old and they are magnificent. They form an integral part of a treasured landscape valued and prized by locals and visitors for it's unique natural beauty.They are a significant feature of the Conservation Area."
Another objector said "The application is self-evidently a protest against the grant of planning permission on the adjacent Badgers Hollow on 24 June; 14/1719/M.
"The beech trees are mature and healthy and form an important part of the local landscape in the conservation area. This was a point stressed in the report of the planning officer on Badgers' Hollow."
The applicant Mr Holt, whose land the trees stand on, states "The trees are to be felled and the whole area grubbed out to provide safe and appropriate off street parking to facilitate the redevelopment of Badgers Hollow. This redevelopment which defies all common sense and results from the idiosyncratic interpretation of Planning Policy by the Local Planning Authority and poses a serious threat to public safety unless adequate measures are implemented to provide facilities for contractors plant and car parking."
The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 14/3060T. A decision is expected by 4th August.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
How absurd, to suggest cutting down 100 year old trees just to satisfy off street parking for contractors for a few months ? ............. Just beyond belief ........... Tell me this is a joke ?
Share the information on a Facebook page such as Wilmslow Raid (residents against inappropriate development ) It can be used as the village
Hall so to speak.
Create a flyer and post them around the area ,
Just some ideas chaps !!!
What action can a few residents actually take. Chain ourselves to the tree...Picket the Planning Department...beg Mr Holt to reconsider or hope common sense prevails. If the trees are protected then they should be left alone.
I am new to this forum and although I have read many posts here I have never posted myself. However, I was so enraged by this matter that I felt I would have to vent!
I only found out about this application yesterday and it is most definitely NOT a joke! Apparently when it comes to felling trees irrespective of having a TPO (tree preservation order) placed upon them there is not a requirement for anyone to notify residents of the intention to fell.
If the application is to be granted or refused it is reported upon by the case officer, Mr Nigel Bates() who is a senior tree officer at Cheshire East and his decision is apparently then submitted for approval /other to the planning officer. If the application is refused then the applicant HAS a right to appeal the decision and the appeal will be heard in Bristol but if the application is granted then the objectors DO NOT have any right of appeal !!
However, all is not yet lost. The planning application is currently scheduled to be discussed at the Parish Council meeting at the Festival Hall on Monday 28th July at 7.30pm (TBC) so if anyone really does care about this matter then they will have an opportunity to voice their opinion. The Parish Council will then make their recommendation to planning although the final decision will remain with planning. If you feel strongly about this but are unable to attend the meeting then you can always email, write or telephone your councillors and Cheshire East planning and tell them how you feel about it.
I am new to the area so unfortunately I am not very conversant with the processes regarding such applications and I am not familiar with the parish councillors although I have today telephoned and spoken to a Mr Keegan who has helped me to understand the process as Cheshire East confirmed that he was the consulting councillor regarding this particular application. If anyone still wishes to voice their objections then please email Cheshire east planning ref 14/3060T - it is past the time limit for formally registering an objection but councillor Keegan said that they will read and do consider all comments, even those coming a little late so it could be a case of "better late than never"!
I do know what amazing specimens these trees are. They are located near my home and I feel very lucky to walk past them virtually everyday. I would urge anyone to go and have a look at them for themselves as they are truly beautiful. It saddens me greatly to think that we can be so arrogant as to destroy such aged beauty ( almost 150 years of growth) for the sake of a makeshift car parking area and when the builders have gone in a year or so and no longer require the parking space, what then ??
place into somewhere different?
Why not move to that somewhere different in the first place. Please leave what is left of the old Alderley Edge and enjoy the place you first liked or it wont be that place much longer. I do speak from experience.
I my expectation if found to be wrong and CEC do GRANT permission (i.e. Approve) then the only course of action is to challenge CECs decision in court by a process known as Judicial Review.
An application to seek a Judicial Review must be made within 6 weeks of the DECISION NOTICE being issued.
Stuart
The following is an extract from the current local plan covering the Alderley Edge area.
……...
Tree Protection
DC9 DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD RESULT IN:
1 DIRECT LOSS OF; OR
2 A THREAT TO THE CONTINUED WELLBEING OF; OR
3 AN UNSATISFACTORY RELATIONSHIP WITH
TREES OR WOODLAND WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF A TREE PRESERVATION ORDER, OR WHICH ARE CONSIDERED WORTHY OF PROTECTION, WILL NOT BE
ALLOWED, EXCEPT IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:
(a) WHERE THE TREES OR WOODLAND ARE NO LONGER OF SUFFICIENT AMENITY VALUE; OR
(b) WHERE THE REMOVAL OF TREES OR WOODLAND IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT ARBORICULTURAL OR SILVICULTURAL BEST PRACTICE; OR
(c) EXCEPTIONALLY WHERE MITIGATION PROVIDES AN IDENTIFIABLE NET ENVIRONMENTAL GAIN.
……...