PLANS to fell more than 150 trees to make way for a huge housing development in Wombwell have angered residents - who have received the backing of a local councillor.
Plans have already been approved by the council’s planning board to build a total of 235 homes on Lundhill Road - and work is already underway.
However, a recently submitted amendment to the plans state the firm behind the development - Miller Homes - want to destroy another 160 trees.
Local resident Kathryn Wing, who has lived on nearby Gypsy Lane for six years, said the area used to be a haven for wildlife - but the submitted plans will mean this will no longer be the case.
She told the Chronicle: “They’ve already felled more than 100 trees before this amended application was submitted.
“They now want to take another 160 trees out.
“There’s only a handful of people who have been notified of this - we just haven’t been consulted enough.
“Gypsy Lane used to be a street full of trees but this is no longer the case.
“We just need some support - I can’t sit around and do nothing.”
A planning report states that the removal of the trees will be compensated on a one-to-one basis.
“In total, the proposal seeks to remove a total of 160 trees from the site.
“The loss off these trees will however be compensated one a one-to-one basis, with 160 replacement trees to be replanted.
“In total, 128 trees will be planted within the developable area in the form of street and garden trees, and 37 trees will be replanted within the woodland.”
Coun James Higginbottom, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, represents the Wombwell ward - and aired his concerns to the planning department.
He believes that the one-to-one compensation is not sufficient as many of the trees due to be felled are mature, and will be replaced by ‘much younger’ ones.
He added that the previous conduct of the developers and the loss of ‘visual amenity’ to properties on Gypsy Lane and Poplar Road are also of concern.
He added: “I have been contacted by a number of residents from the surrounding area, who are very concerned about the proposed felling of an additional 160 trees to facilitate the construction on the former Wombwell High School site.
“I do not believe that these proposals are necessary to ensure the viability of housing delivery on site.
“Plans that were initially granted for the construction of 235 dwellings did so on the basis of existing arboricultural assessments, and this was clearly known to the developer at the time they took over the site and associated planning permissions.
“In my view, these proposals would result in an unacceptable loss of visual amenity to surrounding properties and a considering and unjustifiable loss of biodiversity at this time.”
