A NATURE-LOVER has taken photos of a new housing development in Chester describing it as “utter destruction” of the natural environment.
Tom McGovern contacted The Standard today (Monday, July 15) to say he had passed the Wrexham Road site and was shocked by what he saw.
The controversial project will see Redrow Homes and Taylor Wimpey build almost 1,300 new homes on the site, located across the road from The King’s School.
It was approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s planning committee in January this year.
Mr McGovern said: “Planning permission may have been given by CWaC but the local people did not agree to the total destruction of our natural environment to the detriment of all animals who lived there and who are currently being forced from their homes for good!
“If we can't protect our indigenous endangered species like the Great Crested Newt and our local, declining Barn Owl population, how can we expect other less developed countries to protect their own endangered wildlife around the world!"
He added: “This development won't be providing a single unit to help ease Chester's huge homeless crisis and only seeks to further line the pockets of multi-billion-pound companies like Redrow and Taylor Wimpey who pay their chief execs hundreds of millions each year in pay and bonuses.
“An awful decision to release our beloved and diverse natural habitat for profit and greed to the detriment of our children and all future generations.”
The Wrexham Road development hit the headlines back in March when there was uproar at the use of anti-nesting nets on hedgerows at the site.
The hedges have now been removed and work has begun, as Mr McGovern’s photos show.
Both Redrow and Taylor Wimpey have stressed that all work is carried out under the guidance of environmental experts.
It is proposed that a nature reserve featuring 10 ponds will be created as a new home for the protected Great Crested Newts that will be displaced by the housing development.
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey North West previously said: “The Wrexham Road development is being progressed with the assistance of a qualified ecologist.”
The site was officially removed from the Green Belt protected list in 2015 in a move that angered environmental campaigners.
Critics maintain there are enough ‘brown field’ sites to address the city’s soaring demand for housing.
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