Trees and hedges cut down for Cambs development cause fears for …

Fears for wildlife have been raised after trees and hedges were cut down by developers near Cambridge's Darwin Green development. The greenery along Histon Road was cut down on the evening of Tuesday, May 16.

The development is being led by Barratt David Wilson Homes, who said the trees were removed to allow for a new access road to Darwin Green. Planning was granted for up to 1,593 new homes in 2013 and the site is being developed in six 'parcels'.

Ben Greig, from On the Verge Cambridge, said he saw "the damage" at 7am on Wednesday, May 17. He said: "Wild habitat is treated very, very casually in these situations, and dispensed of very easily, very quickly.

"So it's not really it's not valued at all for for what it should be." He said he was concerned about wildlife, including birds and badgers, living in the hedgerow and its vicinity.

A spokesperson for Barratt David Wilson Homes said: "As part of the delivery of a new access road to Darwin Green we are required to carry out remedial work along Histon Road. This has been done in accordance with the agreement made with Cambridge City Council and under the supervision of an ecologist[2].

Histon Road in September 2021 Histon Road in September 2021

"Whilst the new access road did necessitate the removal of some trees, the wider site will see the planting of new trees and the delivery of green space for new and existing residents to enjoy." Mr Greig said: "Planting a few saplings somewhere else will not offset really nice, deep, thickets of hawthorn and various trees that had been there for 30, 40, 50 years."

Councillor Neil Shailer, vice chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's[3] highways and transport committee, said: "The works on Histon Road form part of the planning permission for Darwin Green and are being carried out by the developer. As part of the planning process, developer ecology assessments are reviewed by the district or city council. In this case, we understand conversations have happened between the city council tree officers and the developer.

"The county council is involved, from a highway point of view, to ensure the junction works carried out by the developer are in accordance with relevant legislation."

References

  1. ^ Award-winning Cambridge food shop faces closure as it issues 'use us or lose us' plea (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
  2. ^ ecologist (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)
  3. ^ Cambridgeshire County Council's (www.cambridge-news.co.uk)