Landowner accused of destroying wildlife haven
THE owner of a conservation area at Highburton – a beautiful sanctuary for wildlife, bats, badgers, woodpeckers and foxes – has been accused of tearing it to pieces.
Matthew Quarmby was refused planning permission by Kirklees Council last January to build a single detached house at the Dean Fold site – a former disused railway line – largely on the grounds of its impact on the woodland.
This decision was then upheld by an independent government inspector.
However, work began last Wednesday on clearing the site and Kirklees tree protection officers were called.
A Highburton resident said: “The people at the council in the tree department have been extremely upset by this as they worked hard to save this wildlife habitat only to see it destroyed.
“The owner of the land has had several planning permissions declined due to wildlife and tree preservation orders. He has machines tearing down the land as we speak. I’m powerless here whilst they destroy this habitat. Such a sanctuary to the wildlife here has been wiped out like a scene from Avatar. This should be stopped but there’s nothing I can do.”
When the visited the site, a tree protection officer from Kirklees was there. A Kirklees Council spokeswoman said: “The council will visit the site to investigate the latest allegations and take appropriate action.” Mr Quarmby is in Portugal but his sister Francesa Hunt, who lives close to the site, defended his action, saying: “My brother was stopped last year by Kirklees for starting to move spoil that had been dumped against the railway banking 20 years ago when the road was excavated.
“This would have exposed the old railway wall which was partly buried and put it back to how it was originally, but he was told to stop as there was concern about some sycamore trees which had grown on the pile in the meantime. We did actually plant 20 oak saplings about 15 years ago when the rubble from the old bridge which had just been left dumped and scattered about, was cleared. This meant it was necessary to clear the whole area which was then replanted.
“Anyone who walks along the footpath will know that there is a drainage problem from the natural spring which runs down the banking.
“As the landowner, my brother was hoping to sort this out and was hoping to lay the dumped spoil against the banking and generally tidy the area so it could regrow in spring and let nature take over again. As he has now been stopped from completing this, it’s left a real mess and an eyesore”.
Clr Bill Armer said: ““I am concerned that mature trees are being destroyed and I have asked council officers to investigate what is happening.”