Government agency defends felling of valued oak trees
Works part of 3,500 home development attracts criticism
The scale of tree felling along one of the main routes in and out of Burgess Hill has been questioned.
Homes England is the master developer for the 3,500homeNorthernArcsitenorthof the town.
Site preparation works have already started, but concerns have been raised about the number of oak trees felled along Isaacs Lane.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) previously argued such trees needed better protection, saying they were ‘of high ecological value and an integral part of an ancient woodland landscape’.
And farmer Carola Godman Irvine, of Ote Hall Farm, in BurgessHill,saidthiswasnotan isolated issue, with trees being lost nationwide.
“How can this carnage have been allowed,” she asked.
“Someone should be held accountable to the local community who are in utter despair, and weep as they drive by. This is neither progress or acceptable, it is pure vandalism.”
In response, Homes England said the trees had been chopped down in advance of Isaacs Lane being widened and to provide visibility at a new road junction.
A spokesman for the government housing agency said: “Homes England recognises that the Northern Arc is set within a mature landscape of habitats. All areas of ancient woodland habitat on the site will be preserved and protected with a ‘buffer zone’ of new planting.
“Where tree loss is unavoidable, such as the recent and ongoing works to widen Isaacs Lane and provide visibility at the new road junction, Homes England tree specialists and ecologists have worked closely with Mid Sussex District Council to develop a tree planting plan to counterbalance the losses. New trees will be planted to increase the mix of native tree species in the area, bolster resistance to climate change and mitigate the threat of pests and disease.”
The spokesman added that Mid Sussex District Council had been closely consulted during the planning process, with an arboricultural impact assessment carried out. They said an estimated 200,000 new trees, shrubs and plants would beplantedaspartofthescheme.