Where the squirrels roam and foxes play, and birdsong fills the air each day, A picture of life, rich and grand, is taken on this wild, untamed land. To build on this, a grave mistake, a habitat destroyed for heavens sake, The squirrel's dray, the foxes den, lost to concrete, never again. The larks sweet song, the robins nest, disturbed, displaced, put to the test. Our green amenity, a precious space, erased, replaced, with little trace. Let nature thrive, let wild things roam, preserve this land, our creature's home. For once its gone, it can't be reclaimed, a vital balance, forever maimed.
I live on Padden Brook in Romiley, and so have witnessed the past year’s devastation of the woodland there. I’d always assumed that land must be owned by the council, or perhaps United Utilities, as the ‘brook’ of Padden Brook runs under it (to be heard rushing under the large grid-thing), an old designated footpath runs through it, and it contains the retaining wall for Howard Close (and its houses) above. However a ‘For Sale at Auction’-sign went up, and it was sold and bought, and some weeks later a man in a van arrived and trees, shrubs and other foliage were systematically razed to the ground. Then came the log-chipper machinery which he fed all the felled woodland into, his machines wrecking the road edge and pavement surface. Also at that time a tall, battered old box-trailer was permanently parked in the middle of the whole ravaged mess, and started to sink into the mud he’d created. When the trailer was originally left in the middle of the site, next to the pavement, wells of rainwater collected around its wheels etc, which then flooded the pavement and it froze over, making it lethal to walk down there. A sign appeared propped against a stump saying:
GREG HALL BUILDERS LTD
DESIGN AND BUILD YOUR PERFECT LIVING SPACE
The area is habitat to protected wildlife, so this was an added shock. Later on an untaxed car was parked on the land for months too.
Of course I contacted my local councillors, and was assured in September 2024 that ‘due and proper process’ was being followed, inc. Woodland Tree Preservation Orders being placed on some mature trees within the wood – a little bit of closing the door after the horse was gone as Mr Hall had chopped lots of small trees and shrubs – hedgehog habitat – by then Still, better late than never I suppose. Also the Countryside Warden and Ecologist were involved regarding what work could be undertaken around protected wildlife. I followed up with the question of whether his works were being monitored, and the answer was No, he’s been informed that they are there, that’s all.
The residents of Padden Brook meanwhile have been chronically distressed by the utter mess and devastation of the natural surroundings that continues to be forced upon them and their homes. The ”couple of weeks” of unsightliness that Mr Hall assured them would soon be over, has turned into longer than a year. A previously luscious, beautiful, verdant, wildlife-full area of local woodland has been turned into a denuded and distressed wasteland, devastating local wildlife and everything natural that used to exist there. Now it has been discovered that this land is an area which is already actually protected in various legal and official ways by previous local government, how do we get this ‘protection’ enacted and honoured? What can local residents do? Is it possible to find a benevolent local solicitor to help with a private joint prosecution to halt the flouting of everyone’s rights, and to restore, where possible, their right to peaceful enjoyment and reasonable use of their homes and surroundings? Or can we actually rely on our local councillors to prioritise this and take it seriously before it’s too late?
Yours faithfully
Mrs B of Romiley
Editor’s note – Mrs B very kindly provided a photograph.
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