Residents fight to save area of woodland - Battle lines drawn over nature reserve
By Jo Deeks on Thursday, 10th February 2000.
RESIDENTS fighting to save a wooded area close to their homes from development have asked Haverhill Town Council to support their plan that a town nature reserve should be created there.
Members of the Cangle Field Residents Association have put their proposal for the land adjacent to Dovehouse Road to the town council, which has referred the matter to its Leisure Committee.
A petition was gathered last year against a planning application by Meldire Ltd to build 20 homes on part of the six acre site. The plans also showed they hoped to build another 40 homes on the remainder of the site later.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has yet to determine the application, but in the meantime imposed a tree preservation order protecting several trees on the site.
Stuart Denham, of the residents' association, said they were determined to save the site and hoped the town council would support them.
Mr Denham said several land owners were involved and he knew of one who would be prepared to allow it to be used as a nature reserve.
Mr Denham said a 1996 Wildlife Audit suggested there was scope for community involvement and educational use for the site. Cambridge University botanist Jenny Embury said there were lost varieties of fruit trees there when she visited the site.
"There are slow worms there, which are protected, and may be lizards, which are also protected.
"There are all manner of birds, foxes and hedgehogs. Why go planting new woods when you have got one like this already?
"We don't want to live in a concrete jungle, we need to stop and think about these things before it is too late," Mr Denham said.
Gerry Kiernan, a town and borough councillor, sympathised with the residents when they organised the petition and said he would look at what could be done to protect it.
Members of the Cangle Field Residents Association have put their proposal for the land adjacent to Dovehouse Road to the town council, which has referred the matter to its Leisure Committee.
A petition was gathered last year against a planning application by Meldire Ltd to build 20 homes on part of the six acre site. The plans also showed they hoped to build another 40 homes on the remainder of the site later.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council has yet to determine the application, but in the meantime imposed a tree preservation order protecting several trees on the site.
Stuart Denham, of the residents' association, said they were determined to save the site and hoped the town council would support them.
Mr Denham said several land owners were involved and he knew of one who would be prepared to allow it to be used as a nature reserve.
Mr Denham said a 1996 Wildlife Audit suggested there was scope for community involvement and educational use for the site. Cambridge University botanist Jenny Embury said there were lost varieties of fruit trees there when she visited the site.
"There are slow worms there, which are protected, and may be lizards, which are also protected.
"There are all manner of birds, foxes and hedgehogs. Why go planting new woods when you have got one like this already?
"We don't want to live in a concrete jungle, we need to stop and think about these things before it is too late," Mr Denham said.
Gerry Kiernan, a town and borough councillor, sympathised with the residents when they organised the petition and said he would look at what could be done to protect it.
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