Protestors climb trees in row over new housing development

[dutchman]

Some residents are unhappy with the plans to remove trees



Protesters have climbed trees in Potters Green to stop them from being cut down in a long-standing battle with developers over new housing being built in the area. They took to the trees in Elm Field Farms in a bid to stop them being felled as part of a social housing development project.

Developers are building 148 affordable, energy-efficient homes in the area, helping residents combat the rising cost of living with lower energy costs. They said that once the plans are complete there will be more trees in the area than before and that 'significant' work is ongoing to enhance biodiversity in the area.

However, some residents in the local area are furious over the plans. They raised concerns over the impact on beauty spots and wildlife. One resident, who goes by the name of Paul, lives right opposite the development. He took part in recent protests where locals sat on trees to stop contractors from chopping them down.

Haydn Chick, 50, from Coventry, described the move to fell the trees as 'heart-breaking'.

Haydn added: "We should retain as much of nature, we need to work with nature not against it. There is a lot of frustration with people in the city, it seems impossible to speak to these developers.

"These are faceless individuals who are making decisions. Do we need the amount of housing that is built? Should we be building on green sites?

"Wildlife habitats being destroyed within hours is heart-breaking."

Martina Irwin, a member of The Tree Protectors who are staging the protests, told CoventryLive: "Elm Fields Farm has been an integral part of the community for decades. People who are affected by the development are not being listened to.

"Farm owners sold it the council for social housing development. There is a large oak tree on the border with three or four other trees that are established and mature.

"On the border of Paul's garden, next to those trees is an established pond. He said he doesn't want this tree cut down.

"We believe a pond in the location is not only good for wildlife, it's a good aspect aesthetically, they should have a retention of some natural features like that.

"On the original plan, that pond and its surrounding trees was retained, but a revision was made at a later date where that pond and its features are removed in favour of putting property around there.

"That's why we were there, to challenge and to question those decisions that we believe are being made by people not from Coventry on computer screens in remote locations, not understanding that particular area that has been so amazing for wildlife.

"It's a wild space with lots of different species that have made it their home. We hope that they will reconsider that part and give it back to nature and give an important feature of the site to the resident."