Post by andycapp on Jun 12, 2010 15:24:25 GMT
Sutton Cricket Club is at the centre of a controversy after more than two dozen trees on its land were felled without warning.
Residents were horrified at the destruction of the trees, which were on land shortlisted to become protected ancient woodland.
On Saturday, May 29, developer Lodgecrest, of Dorking – which exchanged contracts with the cricket club to buy the land last year – chopped down 25 trees at Sutton Cricket Club’s Holmwood Close site in Epsom.
Lodgecrest was forced to stop the felling after Epsom and Ewell Council tree officers served emergency woodland orders on remaining trees.
Nine days earlier, the council had refused Lodgecrest planning permission to build 12 large homes on the land, which sits on the edge of Nonsuch Little Park and dates back to the reign of Henry VIII.
It said it would lead to an “unacceptable loss of trees” and was awaiting an investigation by the Surrey Wildlife Trust into whether the site was ancient woodland, which carries the most protection.
Pam Corby, 88, who has lived in Holmwood Close for 40 years, said: “I think they have treated us all badly; they never let us know. The wildlife habitat is ruined.
“I do not feel old for my age, but this has put years on me.”
Sylvia Wood, 69, said the developers and Sutton Cricket Club had gone “one step too far” and Janet Gowar, 72, called it a “malicious and mindless act”.
Epsom’s planning committee chairman, councillor Graham Dudley said the felling “risked damage to wildlife”.
He said: “The council regrets the fact the developer, having received a refusal of planning permission, removed some of the unprotected trees on a bank holiday weekend.
“The council has acted promptly and will continue to defend its decision if an appeal is lodged and this would take account of the importance of the trees, the biodiversity of the site and protected species.”
Surrey Wildlife Trust biological records manager Alistair Kirk said the felling of some trees did not “affect the integrity of the whole site” in its bid to be ancient woodland but said the trust would “regret any damage to wildlife and the wild garlic”.
When the Sutton Guardian called Lodgecrest a man who called himself Mark refused to comment.
Sutton Cricket Club celebrated a season of triumph last year after their first and second XIs claimed their respective ECB Surrey Premiership titles.
But Lodgecrest last year told residents that funds from the development would help the cricket club, which finds itself in a “very difficult financial position”.
In another letter to former Epsom mayor Brian Kibble in September, Mr Kelly wrote the cricket club’s “long term financial independence can only be secured if this development takes place”.
Sutton Cricket Club chairman David Thompson would not say why the trees were chopped down.
He said: “That is none of your concern.
“It is our entitlement to [fell the trees], whether planning approval is taken or not.
“Where is the [Surrey Wildlife Trust] report? To our knowledge, at the time of cutting down trees in our property, there was no report available to us. There was nothing.
“The residents are totally aware of what is going on... they have been liaised with totally. They have been fully informed. There is nothing underhand.”
A Surrey Police spokeswoman said police were called to the site on Saturday, May 29 but the action was deemed a civil matter.
She said: “Each party was given words of advice regarding breaches of the peace.”
Surrey Wildlife Trust is surveying the land as part of a two-year project to resurvey all ancient woodland across Surrey, the results will be published in late early 2011.
Residents were horrified at the destruction of the trees, which were on land shortlisted to become protected ancient woodland.
On Saturday, May 29, developer Lodgecrest, of Dorking – which exchanged contracts with the cricket club to buy the land last year – chopped down 25 trees at Sutton Cricket Club’s Holmwood Close site in Epsom.
Lodgecrest was forced to stop the felling after Epsom and Ewell Council tree officers served emergency woodland orders on remaining trees.
Nine days earlier, the council had refused Lodgecrest planning permission to build 12 large homes on the land, which sits on the edge of Nonsuch Little Park and dates back to the reign of Henry VIII.
It said it would lead to an “unacceptable loss of trees” and was awaiting an investigation by the Surrey Wildlife Trust into whether the site was ancient woodland, which carries the most protection.
Pam Corby, 88, who has lived in Holmwood Close for 40 years, said: “I think they have treated us all badly; they never let us know. The wildlife habitat is ruined.
“I do not feel old for my age, but this has put years on me.”
Sylvia Wood, 69, said the developers and Sutton Cricket Club had gone “one step too far” and Janet Gowar, 72, called it a “malicious and mindless act”.
Epsom’s planning committee chairman, councillor Graham Dudley said the felling “risked damage to wildlife”.
He said: “The council regrets the fact the developer, having received a refusal of planning permission, removed some of the unprotected trees on a bank holiday weekend.
“The council has acted promptly and will continue to defend its decision if an appeal is lodged and this would take account of the importance of the trees, the biodiversity of the site and protected species.”
Surrey Wildlife Trust biological records manager Alistair Kirk said the felling of some trees did not “affect the integrity of the whole site” in its bid to be ancient woodland but said the trust would “regret any damage to wildlife and the wild garlic”.
When the Sutton Guardian called Lodgecrest a man who called himself Mark refused to comment.
Sutton Cricket Club celebrated a season of triumph last year after their first and second XIs claimed their respective ECB Surrey Premiership titles.
But Lodgecrest last year told residents that funds from the development would help the cricket club, which finds itself in a “very difficult financial position”.
In another letter to former Epsom mayor Brian Kibble in September, Mr Kelly wrote the cricket club’s “long term financial independence can only be secured if this development takes place”.
Sutton Cricket Club chairman David Thompson would not say why the trees were chopped down.
He said: “That is none of your concern.
“It is our entitlement to [fell the trees], whether planning approval is taken or not.
“Where is the [Surrey Wildlife Trust] report? To our knowledge, at the time of cutting down trees in our property, there was no report available to us. There was nothing.
“The residents are totally aware of what is going on... they have been liaised with totally. They have been fully informed. There is nothing underhand.”
A Surrey Police spokeswoman said police were called to the site on Saturday, May 29 but the action was deemed a civil matter.
She said: “Each party was given words of advice regarding breaches of the peace.”
Surrey Wildlife Trust is surveying the land as part of a two-year project to resurvey all ancient woodland across Surrey, the results will be published in late early 2011.