Green Party plea over plans to fell trees for housing

Green Party campaigners have slammed council bosses over a bid to fell protected trees to make way for housing.

South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee are set to approve housing plans for the former Boldon C of E Primary School site.

Developer Karbon Homes aims to build 16 properties on the site, off Rectory Bank, which will be available under a ‘rent to buy’ scheme.

To clear up derelict land, 20 trees could be removed, including thirteen listed under a council ‘Tree Preservation Order’ (TPO).

Labour bosses have defended the move, stating the TPO was put in place to protect the trees while planning discussions were taking place.

But South Tyneside’s Green Party have said it represents a “failure to appreciate the benefits that trees bestow on the local environment”.

Now, newly-elected Green Party councillor, David Francis, has called for a rethink over the plans.

He said: “The approval of this proposal would be another example of this Labour-run council allowing the removal of trees across South Tyneside without fully considering the worsening environmental impact, or consulting properly on the wishes of local people that are affected.”

In the case of the Boldon C of E site, the applicant has agreed to fund replacement tree planting as part of a section 106 agreement.

These could be planted in council-owned area known locally as ‘The Leap’ with the developer funding future maintenance.

Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety on the council, Coun Joan Atkinson, said: “We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously.

“The council placed preservation orders on the trees to protect them whilst discussions took place with the developer about minimising the number of trees proposed to be felled.”