Outrage after tree-felling at site of controversial 12 homes plan
DEVELOPERS removing trees as part of a controversial housing development have insisted that nesting birds in the area are being protected.
Residents near the former Hill Top care home site in Baxenden have complained to the council after they say trees are being felled during the bird nesting season.
Christchurch Residents Group had been campaigning against proposals to build on the site off Newton Drive and Manchester Road since 2009 – and lodged 75 objections to the planning application.
Their campaign came to an end in July last year when the proposal to create eight semidetached and four detached homes at the site was approved the planning committee.
Anne McEvoy, secretary of the residents group, claimed that tree felling on the site has surpassed the number of trees initially proposed, and said trees are being felled during the nesting season.
She said: “It appears to us that what has happened is because the site is so over-developed trees are getting in the way of foundation laying and development.
“We are trying to save as many trees as we can. The felling should have only been carried out prior to the trees coming into life and prior to the bird nesting season.”
Anne added: “So far they have taken down 30-odd trees, by the time they have finished it will be more like 40 – a mixture of mature trees and younger trees.
“We are still opposed to