Developers hit back at ‘insulting’ arson claims by leading councillor
TI freely admit there is not so far conclusive proof to link the arsonists to the potential developers, there is ample ‘previous’ where similar developers have sought to maximise their prospect of profit by destroying wildlife in hedgerows Councillor Richard Eddy
HE chairman of one of Bristol City Council’s planning committees has been criticised by one of the region’s biggest developers after he wrote to fire chiefs and police calling on them to investigate alleged links between the developers and a series of fires on the edge of Bristol.
Housebuilder Redrow described the letter from Cllr Richard Eddy to Avon’s Chief Fire Officer as ‘deeply insulting and false.’
Fire chiefs and police are investigating around six or seven individual fires set along hedges and a boundary fence near Yew Tree Farm, on the edge of Bedminster Down on Sunday, April 3.
Local farmer Catherine Withers, who tackled the fires before firefighters arrived, said she thought the way the fires were spaced out along the fences and hedgerows of her boundary was ‘really weird.’
Redrow has controversial plans to build around 200 homes on land nearby at Bridgwater Road – land rented and farmed as part of Yew Tree Farm, but not owned by Catherine Withers.
She has been a staunch campaigner against the new homes plan, which she said would make farming the land she does own unsustainable.
She and other campaigners have been backed by Cllr Eddy, who secured a council resolution at City Hall for Bristol City Council to not permit any development on green spaces last autumn.
After the fires, Cllr Eddy wrote to Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton, and copied in local police, urging a ‘full investigation’ and saying the possibility the fires could have something to do with the development plans should be investigated.
He wrote that he was horrified by the fires and the situation could have been far worse in summer, when the vegetation may have been dryer.
He wrote: “Whilst I freely admit there is not so far conclusive proof to link the arsonists to the potential developers, there is ample ‘previous’ where similar developers have sought to maximise their prospect of profit by destroying wildlife, eg adders, in hedgerows – where they perceived that the wildlife manifest in the hedges might persuade council plan
These are deeply insulting and false comments ... towards our colleagues and the thousands of decent people ... across the housebuilding industry Redrow Homes
ners not to grant planning consent.
“Accordingly, you can understand my fears and concern about future arson-attacks and ... my desire to work with AFRS and Avon & Somerset Police to prevent the likelihood of future ‘repeat-performances’ – especially as they risk having more serious and devastating consequences.”
The land proposed to be built on by Redrow Homes was not part of the land affected by the arson attack.
Redrow Homes was outraged by Cllr Eddy’s comments. They said: “These are deeply insulting and false comments by Councillor Eddy towards our colleagues and the thousands of decent people who are working across the housebuilding industry to create quality homes, both affordable and private, throughout the wider Bristol area. We don’t propose to dignify these remarks with any further comment.”
Avon Fire & Rescue Service said earlier this week they were treating the fires as arson.
Avon & Somerset police said: “We’d ask anyone who saw a person or persons acting suspiciously in that area to call 101 and give reference number 5222 080 584.”