Star date: 26th August 2020

MATURE TREES AND WILDLIFE DISRUPTION PROPOSED BY UNITED UTILITIES IN ELLESMERE PARK

Over four hundred residents have objected to plans by United Utilities to clear 17 mature trees and disrupt wildlife within the Three Sisters nature reserve in Ellesmere Park, and, today, many came out to protest.

The company wants to clear the trees to build drainage for flood protection but the Ellesmere Park Residents Association wants it to locate the facility elsewhere – and for Salford City Council, which owns the land, to put Tree Preservation Orders on the threatened trees.

Full details here...

This morning, dozens of local residents braved the rain to protest against plans by United Utilities to construct a nine metre storm tank, temporary car park and storage facilities, destroying over 17 mature trees and disrupting local wildlife in the process.

The construction is to protect against flooding for around a dozen houses but Steve Donohue of the Ellesmere Park Residents Association believes that around half of those households are actually objecting to the plans.

"United Utilities are not discussing the options with us, just the option they want which is chopping the trees down" he explains "No-one seems to be valuing the trees.

"It's an area that attracts people from quite a large catchment and, of course, in the COVID  days it's become a lot more valuable to a lot more people" he adds "We believe that United Utilities haven't looked at options, and where they have looked at options they seem to be impractical. They normally build these sorts of things under the road so why can't they do that now? This isn't a park it's a natural environment, a Site of Biological Interest and a Local Nature Reserve. That, I think, deserves some protection."

Indeed, in United Utilities' own Biodiversity Report, it was noted that 'the mosaic  of  neutral grassland, tall ruderal, scrub and plantation broadleaved woodland habitats that will be lost to the development are all in moderate condition and of medium habitat distinctiveness. These habitats will provide valuable places of refuge, shelter and foraging opportunities for common amphibian species, small mammals and birds'.

The report added that frogs and toads were present on the site as well as refuges for hedgehogs, although residents believe that it underestimates the nature value of the terrain, and that 'Great Crested Newts reside on the site'. 

The 17 trees to be removed include nine 'category B' trees including Ash, Oak, Bay Willow, Hawthorn and Sycamore, and Steve Donohue is urging Salford City Council, which owns the land, to put Tree Preservation Orders on them, adding that while the company is proposing to plant new trees it would take fifty years to bring the site back to anything near its original condition.

"Salford Council is saying lots of things about looking after the land but we are yet to see actions to protect it" he explains "The councillors are supporting us but the Council, by not giving the company access to the land, could stop it, so why aren't they doing that? We'd like them to put Tree Preservation Orders on the trees; it's their land and they can do that.."

Even United Utilities recognises the impact that would have...

"Due to the large potential penalties for illegally carrying out work to protected trees, JCA recommend that a further check is carried out prior to any works being undertaken" JCA Consultants note in its Arboricultural Report carried out for United Utilities "This is especially relevant as the Local Authority is able to serve a TPO at any time. The presence of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) represents the Local Authority's desire to retain trees within the landscape."

Meanwhile, the company is also well aware of the status of Three Sisters..."While the SDP [Supplementary Planning Document] discourages development within Three Sisters Park, the proposed development, once completed, is considered to not pose a significant detriment to the sense of space and openness which the park is valued for in the SDP" it states in its planning statement for the facility "It is recognised that various other local planning policies and designations do exist to protect the biological and recreational value of areas such as Three Sisters Park.

"However, the proposed development is put forward for planning permission in the belief that the benefits of the proposals to the community outweigh any detriment to the functions of the current land use, in holistic consideration of the UDP, SLP:DMP and other relevant planning policies..." it ironically concludes.

Steve Donohue, representing that local community, believes that while the flood defence is needed, Salford City Council should make United Utilities look at other options..."It's their land after all so why can't they stop it today?" he asks.

The plans are due to go to Salford Council Planning Panel in October...

For more information join the Save The Three Sisters Nature Reserve on Facebook - click here