Portslade wildlife haven "wrecked" by buldozer (From The Argus)
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Portslade wildlife haven "wrecked" by buldozer
4:00pm Saturday 20th March 2010 in
A wildlife haven was left in chaos after a bulldozer was used to rip up trees and shrubs.
Furious residents threatened a sit in protest after heavy machinery pulled onto the site in Mile Oak Road, Portslade.
They claim the work has destroyed the habitats of nesting birds and badgers which are frequently spotted at the site.
Work was only halted when a Brighton and Hove City Council ecology officer arrived on the scene.
The site was the subject of a planning application for two homes that was rejected in June 2008, partly because of the damage the development would cause to the local trees and wildlife.
Fiona Payne, 39, who lives next door to the half cleared site, said: “In a couple of hours they have destroyed a habitat that will take years to grow back.
“People actually come to this spot just to see all these animals but I don't know if they will return here now after this.”
Council officials are looking into the incident.
Comments(15)
heavenscentrose
says...
6:51pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Also, if they have fallen foul of any other legislation, hopefully they will have to pay other fines as well.
Christophe Hawtree
says...
10:35pm Sat 20 Mar 10
They should be gaoled.
The mothers of those who did this terrible thing must ask themselves whether it really was worth the trouble and agony of pushing them into this world - or whether they wasted that precious time.
corruptive
says...
1:32am Sun 21 Mar 10
Security-word: tree-hugs
Acheron
says...
7:52am Sun 21 Mar 10
When something like this happens, there should be an automatic disqualification for the area from any planning applications for a fixed period, thereby stopping companies doing this, taking the hit but knowing they will get their way in the end.
If B&H CC give planning permission for this in the end, then they are sanctioning building companies to do as they like!
Zamora Ace
says...
8:46am Sun 21 Mar 10
I totally agree with others on here that the site should be suspended from any planning applications as these bullies should not get away with such scant disregard for others. The law really does need to change and punish those offenders.
Cheers
Old Ladys Gin
says...
9:52am Sun 21 Mar 10
Were they estates that now edge up to the A27 there before the road was built?
All our homes have been built at the expense of something or other, and it is said we need more; somebody somewhere its going to have to put up with it.
Mr. Kipling
says...
1:40pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Zamora Ace
says...
1:43pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Old Ladys Gin wrote:This is not the point and is certainly not the issue I believe of the people concerned. This is not a matter of people being Nimbys etc this I believe is more of an issue that developers keep trying to push the boundaries of what is very weak planning laws. Too often developers are allowed to take out TPOs and other areas of natural beauty without given rights to do so. I dont live anywhere near Portslade but felt it necessary to support these people as with proper consultations housing does get built correctly for which we must all be grateful but when it has been rejected on various occassions regarding the natural natural habitat then by just flaunting public opinion and possibly the law then they should be punished.
I just wonder about all these people that protest, I wonder how they think their homes got built in the first place; was Patcham always rows of mock tudors? Were they estates that now edge up to the A27 there before the road was built? All our homes have been built at the expense of something or other, and it is said we need more; somebody somewhere its going to have to put up with it.
I wonder if you would have such a blahsay attitude if your neighbour decided without consent to knock their house down and completely prepare the ground prior to any planning had been given!!??? Sorry but you should support these people and not make such ludicrous comments. People have a right to fight for what is right in their local area. End of...and no I am not a gren do gooder campaigner but just fed up of how little punishment is given to developers who flaunt planning laws and local people. Although I must say not all should be tarred with the same brush!
Granny
says...
2:49pm Sun 21 Mar 10
MoreMikey
says...
3:24pm Sun 21 Mar 10
It really does make my blood boil as I live in a small village ....
Hove is a small village?
PeteBrighton
says...
4:52pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Old Ladys Gin
says...
6:56pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Zamora Ace wrote:I'm not offhand about it but what I say is the case, throughout most of our towns.
Old Ladys Gin wrote:This is not the point and is certainly not the issue I believe of the people concerned. This is not a matter of people being Nimbys etc this I believe is more of an issue that developers keep trying to push the boundaries of what is very weak planning laws. Too often developers are allowed to take out TPOs and other areas of natural beauty without given rights to do so. I dont live anywhere near Portslade but felt it necessary to support these people as with proper consultations housing does get built correctly for which we must all be grateful but when it has been rejected on various occassions regarding the natural natural habitat then by just flaunting public opinion and possibly the law then they should be punished.
I just wonder about all these people that protest, I wonder how they think their homes got built in the first place; was Patcham always rows of mock tudors? Were they estates that now edge up to the A27 there before the road was built? All our homes have been built at the expense of something or other, and it is said we need more; somebody somewhere its going to have to put up with it.
I wonder if you would have such a blahsay attitude if your neighbour decided without consent to knock their house down and completely prepare the ground prior to any planning had been given!!??? Sorry but you should support these people and not make such ludicrous comments. People have a right to fight for what is right in their local area. End of...and no I am not a gren do gooder campaigner but just fed up of how little punishment is given to developers who flaunt planning laws and local people. Although I must say not all should be tarred with the same brush!
Yes, and of course they must fight, I am always pleased to see people stand up to big business or overbearing authority. But, houses are going to be built somewhere.
saveHOVE
says...
10:17pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Three laws have been broken:
1. The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981.
2. The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act of 1996.
3. The Badger Protection Act of 1992.
I will be looking to see how North Portslade cllr Bob Carden responds to this outrage as he is especially fond of badgers. Cllr?
Unless the trees are TPO'd as they were at Anston House in Brighton the consequences may not be as severe as the outrages against the animals.
Zamora Ace
says...
11:31pm Thu 25 Mar 10
MoreMikey wrote:Oh my God I cannot believe you are so sad as to comment that I reported myself to be from Hove, I have recently moved but had not changed my name to a small village now outside of Brighton... good grief!!
Zamora Ace, Hove says... It really does make my blood boil as I live in a small village .... Hove is a small village?
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corruptive says...
4:48pm Sat 20 Mar 10