Anger at "environmental vandalism"

Mr Faulkner where the felled trees stood

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A Spotland man is furious with the Council for what he calls "environmental vandalism".

Carl Faulkner, who is standing as an independent on the forthcoming local elections, is angry at the "destruction" of mature trees on council maintained land before planning permission has been granted.

As part of the Falinge Park school rebuilding program a planning application (12/D55279) was submitted which included plans to remove trees.

However, Mr Faulkner says this action has prevented any possibility that the trees could be saved and incorporated into the new build.

"It has circumvented the planning process, said Mr Faulkner, in all, 12 mature trees were destroyed. Some were even on Charitable Trust land that is not part of the construction site.

"It is an absolutely disgraceful. It was all done during the recent school holidays. All evidence of trees once standing there (apart from the tree stumps), has been meticulously removed.

Mr Faulkner took photos of the trees before they were felled because he says he suspected something like this would happen. He said: "The reason I have ‘before’ photographs is that despite previous assurances that the trees did not require protection, I suspected something like this might happen.

"No notification of this destruction was given and despite a request to the council for the name of the person who was responsible for authorising it, no name has been divulged.

"I have previously submitted objections to the plans as they also include another attempt to take part of Lenny Barn playing fields. Proposals to build on the playing fields were approved by the RMBC Charitable Trust Panel after they were presented with plans that had been altered to facilitate encroachment onto the playing fields. The plans were altered after they had been presented at a local public forum at which they did not show any planned encroachment."

Keith Hill, New Schools Programme Support Manager at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This project represents a wonderful opportunity to provide the students of Falinge Park High School with excellent facilities that will enhance their future learning and development.

“When the original proposals to build on Lenny Barn were rejected it was determined that the construction had to take place on school land. The only space available to construct the new school was at the front of the site which necessitated the removal of some trees as the building will occupy the full area.

“Following discussions with the Planning Department it was determined that no Tree Preservation Orders were in place and that felling could not occur between March and July, which is the bird nesting season. In order to keep to programme and prevent costly delays the trees were removed at the end of February. All of the removed trees were on school land.”

Mark Robinson, Chief Planning Officer at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The trees in question were not protected by any Tree Preservation Order. It is likely that a condition of any planning permission being granted would require a landscaping scheme to be implemented and maintained as part of any finished development.”