Romiley Gazette – Special Report
24th September 2025
Romiley residents are expressing anger and heartbreak after extensive destruction at a much-loved Local Wildlife Site — including the reported felling of mature, believed to be protected trees — despite over a year of appeals to local officials to intervene.
Locals say they have been contacting the council and elected representatives since last year, warning that the site was under threat and asking for urgent action to protect it. Despite these efforts, yesterday saw what witnesses describe as “huge destruction” of trees that were believed to have Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
“We’ve been begging them to act for 13 months,” said one resident, who watched the trees being cut down. “Now it’s too late — the habitat is gone.”
Criticism has been directed at senior figures including Monitoring Officer Vicki Bates, MP Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrat), and local LibDem councillors Clark, Roberts, and Bresnahan. Campaigners argue that these elected officials had the authority to act sooner but failed to do so.
Adding fuel to local frustration, it is alleged that council representative Liz Sykes called it “vexatious” to continue raising the issue — a comment that has upset residents who feel they were simply trying to protect local nature.
Legal Protection Ignored?
The site is recognised as a Local Wildlife Site, meaning it is considered of high local ecological value and should receive strong protection through the planning system. In addition, the mature trees reportedly had Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), making it a criminal offence to fell, damage or uproot them without council consent. Campaigners argue the council should have issued an immediate stop notice, investigated potential breaches, and if necessary pursued prosecutions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Tree Preservation (England) Regulations 2012.
Calls for Resignation
In light of the destruction, several residents are now openly calling for those responsible to step down. “If our elected representatives and senior officers cannot uphold the very laws designed to protect our natural heritage, they should not remain in public office,” said one campaigner. “We deserve representatives who will defend our green spaces, not stand by while they are destroyed.”
Residents are demanding full accountability, a public investigation into why enforcement action was not taken, and immediate resignations from those they believe failed in their duty to the community.
The Gazette has reached out to the council and the individuals named for comment. At the time of going to press, no formal statement had been issued.
Editorial Comment
The Romiley Gazette shares the community’s deep frustration and dismay. The destruction of this Local Wildlife Site was preventable. Legal protections exist for a reason — to safeguard our natural environment for future generations — and it is the duty of public officials to uphold them.
We believe that when senior officers and elected representatives allow a legally protected site to be lost despite repeated public warnings, they forfeit the trust placed in them. For that reason, this paper supports calls for the immediate resignation of those responsible and urges the council to launch a transparent inquiry into how this failure was allowed to happen.
This was the level of destruction on 23rd September 2025 alone –
