THE destruction of trees at the southern gateway to Tavistock was this week slammed by residents and councillors shocked at the extent of the work. The trees have been removed from the hedgerow on the A386 between Bishopsmead and Anderton Lane by contractors preparing to build a major new estate adjacent to the road. Tavistock resident John Ord said he, and the majority of people he had spoken to, were ?horrified? at the removal of the ?historic tree-lined approach to the town?. Mr Ord said: ?I would like an answer as to why it is necessary to remove every single tree from this stretch ? and I would also like specific assurances as to which trees will be left on the development. ?My understanding from viewing outline plans was that trees and existing hedgerows would remain. It is paramount the council puts every measure in place to ensure such destruction is not continued throughout the development.? Tavistock resident Ian Goodfellow said: ?This happened rapidly and brutally and one wonders A, was it necessary and B, who sanctioned it and what controls are going to be exercised on the removal of any other trees and hedgerows. ?My feeling is the number of trees that have been removed is disproportionate and if so many had to be cut down, there should have been some positive attempt on the part of the planning authority to solicit people?s views.? Cllr Alison Clish-Green, West Devon?s Tavistock South West ward member, said she was shocked at the ?complete desecration? in the area. ?Everyone appreciates the need for additional housing but we have to protect the landscape ? where there are mature trees and hedgerows, why can?t they be incorporated into the development?? asked Cllr Clish-Green. ?I really don?t see why they had to bulldoze this many down. I shall be watching what happens incredibly carefully and I hope people will contact me if anything untoward is happening here ? it won?t be the first time I?ve stood in front of a digger and I hope the council will do all in its power to safeguard trees and hedges during the next stage of the development.? Ed Persse, West Devon planning officer, said: ?The developers have actually done exactly what they have permission for. Because of the size of the roundabout that?s going in, and the visibility splay, they have to re-align the A386 into the site, otherwise it would mean the developers would be working on land on the opposite side that they have no control over.? Mr Persse said some hedgerows and trees would be lost once the site was developed, but when detailed planning consent was applied for, the borough would require a comprehensive list of features at risk and landscaping proposals. A spokesman for Redrow, which is developing the 220-property site, said the trees had been removed by a specialist sub-contractor and the timing carefully chosen to protect wildlife during the bird nesting season at the end of February. ?We understand people?s concern but, wherever possible, existing trees and hedgerows are being retained to help form the character of the development. We will also be implementing an extensive landscaping programme of our own and will be maintaining large areas of open space and greenery to protect the semi-rural location,? said the spokesman.
