Homes plan Leaders join bid to save 2,000 trees
COUNCILLORS have added their voices to calls to stop developers from chopping down 2,000 trees in a Gloucestershire village.
Hayfield Homes wants permission to build 55 homes on 7.8 acres of land off Hill End Road, north of Twyning, near Tewkesbury.
The developer lodged an appeal before Tuesday’s planning committee meeting at Tewkesbury Borough Council and the final decision for the proposals will be down to a planning inspector.
Council officers say the planning status of the site is considered to be residential.
They recommended that the council should be minded to permit the proposals for a mix of one to four-bedroom homes.
However, almost 300 people objected to the proposals and many want to save the large number of trees that were planted on the site around 10 years ago.
The site has numerous public footpaths running through it, and these are well used by local residents.
Speaking at the planning committee meeting, Jeremy Horsfall, chairman of Twyning Parish Council, called on councillors to oppose the plans.
He said the village was facing exponential growth and said the proposed wilful destruction of woodland was causing outrage in the local community and condemnation from The Countryside Charity.
He said: “Residents in Twyning find themselves overwhelmed with new developments, with an infrastructure which is completely unsustainable.”
County councillor Cate Cody (G, Tewkesbury) spoke on behalf of hundreds of her constituents against the scheme.
She said the local school was already full, there were horrendous ongoing sewage issues, there was a lack of public transport and the access lane to the village was busy and narrow.
Councillor Cody also said the county council’s tree planting network was working with residents with the aim of planting one million trees. She said: “What is the point of a group like this if, whilst planting new trees over here, 2,000 can be felled elsewhere in the county?
“This application is just plain wrong. The destruction of this biodiverse habitat, valued by those before, during and since lockdown, would be an injustice and an insult to everyone who uses it and a severe blow to the wildlife and mental and physical health of residents.”
Oliver Rider, speaking in favour of the plans, said the village was a designated service village to meet the borough’s housing needs.
He said the site was well connected and was not in an area of outstanding natural beauty, conservation area or flood zone.
He said: “It therefore represents an obvious site for development.
“The delivery of sites like this is even more critical now given the fragility of the council’s housing supply situation.
“Granting permission here will create enhancements, although it will result in the loss of some trees.
“It would allow public access to the wider site.
“I’m aware of the suggestion that this is public land, but it’s not. It’s private land.”
He said there were no planning grounds to vote for refusal and called on the committee to approve the proposals.
But ward councillor Mike Sztymiak (Ind, Tewkesbury North & Twyning) said the plans were outside the village boundary and Twyning had already exceeded its housing target.
He also said the development would destroy the wood.
He said: “The number of people that turned out to support and preserve the wood during the site inspection is testimony to the value they attach to it.
“Among many of the banners, one caught my eye which said that wood had helped save that person’s life when they suffered from mental health problems.”
He said this was one of the hidden human benefits and the council had agreed to place a tree preservation order on the entire site earlier this year.
He said: “It’s a big ask, mister chairman, but I would like to see your committee unanimously refuse this application. The unanimous rejection will give our officers the confidence to defend this at appeal.”
The committee voted unanimously to be minded to refuse the proposal.
A planning inspector will have the final say on the scheme.
The number of people that turned out to support and preserve the wood during the site inspection is testimony to the value they attach to it Mike Sztymiak