This would seem to be a knee jerk response to prostitution and drug dealing which has gone on in this area for many years. Why it's suddenly prompted this response is mysterious - it seems an extraordinary response to a problem which will just move to the next secluded area. I've heard there was an application to build on it in the past, so maybe the plan is to put in an application once the trees are out of the way and the habitat has been destroyed. Either way, the way in which it's been done is highly dangerous - the public have been free to wander around while felling is in progress.
It's awful to think, but could this destruction be a panic response by a landowner to the blanket tpo just issued on grove woods? Even more awfully, could this mean more landowners all over Bristol, even Britain, panicing and chopping trees down before local people can protect them? What we really need to stop all these problems is a lot stronger protection for the whole environment against greedy and stupid destroyers. Trees, birds, animals, they can't speak for themselves, they need us to help out.
WENP - I agree: your point about the TPO on nearby Grove Wood might have prompted this work and explain why the felling was done over the weekend when Council staff could not be called out to halt the felling. However, if this is in the conservation area this means planning laws have been broken and the landowner will probably get away with a retrospective permission from the Council, as happened at Grove Wood. The landowner may possibly have been tipped-off as the works are a complete surprise to everyone who uses the park.
My fault, apparently - i'm accused of jinxing the wood by my visit and blog the day before this happened. Of course it's a terrible disgrace, but I partly blame the patronising so-called-greens and environmental campaigners who warn individuals like me away from protesting about tree felling, because we're 'not doing it properly'. To quote a popular film, "It's happening, Reg. Something's actually happening, Reg. Can't you understand?"
I am disgusted. I feel sorry for you poor people in Bristol. there is so little open green space. I am planting a 'private' wood at the moment. This behaviour is disgraceful. Its seems pointless. Its good to maintain trees but this is vandalism, not maintenance.
Response to previous comment: Actually it isn't. There are statutory planning regulations (incl. Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and Tree Regulations 1999) and local authority policies for trees just as there are for buildings. As you know, people have to apply to develop their properties because our environment needs to be controlled. It is just the same for the environment, especially the removal of a significant amount of trees.
I really fail to see what the problem is. The destruction of natural habitat in Bristol can not possibly make city any worse simply because it hit rock bottom a long, long time ago. After living in the city for 17 years, I acted on my decision to depart. Those that chose to remain deserve everything that they receive.
The plot of land going down to the lake isn't owned by the council. It was owned by the boys-brigade. The sold to property developers who want to build 40 houses on it. I dont think they've got planning permission for anything yet.
Anonymous said..."its up to the landowner what he does with his land".
What is it with some of these anonymouses?
To my way of seeing Life, saying it's up to the "landowner" is like saying that it's up to the "man of the house" how he treats his wife, children and dog.
What is wrong with our cultural mindset? People love buildings and architecture yet when it comes to green space and trees they loose all morals and standards. We are somewhat behind other countries as regards green aesthetics.
Think about the work of Capability Brown (Bath Spa campus is a good local example) and the harmony which can exist between the landscape and buildings. If Blaise Castle can be preserved why can't Eastville Park? Oh, I forgot, it doesn't have a Georgian House in the middle of it! LOL!
These destroyers of urban green space are forcing a dichotomous world upon us - one where we are supposed to travel beyond the city edge in order to experience nature, wildlife and green space. The great thing about Bristol is the way the natural habitat comes right to the heart of the city, primarily via our river gorges. If we want to preserve this we will have to get more radical and obtain more political power!
Since this wood has been used by the public and is considered to be part of the park perhaps people should now lobby the Council to consider a Compulsory Purchase Order, especially given the landowner's irresponsibility.
If you live in Eastville you can contact your local councillors about this wood and the future of the park: Steve Comer (LibDem) and Muriel Cole (LibDem). Their contact details are on the Council website: www.bristol.gov.uk
The woods have been cut down by a rogue property developer who is looking to develop the site.
There have been many clashes between the developer and the local residents going back over ten years.
The council seem powerless or unwilling to do anything to protect the site or to support the objections of local residents. The matter has been rasied more than once with councillers and planning authorities who just sit on their hands and do nothing.
isn't it about time the council DID something about this site before it disappears under a sea of concrete.
I was surprised to learn that a part of Eastville park was under private ownership. I would certainly support a move by the council to put a compulsory purchase on the land. Is there a reason why this landowner should have the protection of anonymity? It seems wrong that he/she/they can get away with quite terrible environmental vandalism without being named and shamed. The council simply must become more robust in their handling of such deliberate mischief. The effect of damaging such a relatively large part of the park is likely to have significant impact on wildlife, not just for those creatures that lived in the trees but for anything that regularly passed through or depended on the area for food or cover.
As stated - "The council seem powerless or unwilling to do anything to protect the site or to support the objections of local residents" was exactly the same experience people had with Grove Wood until the planning committee finally realised the necessity for a TPO. What the hell are we paying Council Tax for? The loss of these trees in Eastville Park completely justifies the necessity for TPOs on private land.
The landowner is not anonymous. Probably just no-one had found out who they are. Now, apparently, we know:
Evening Post 20th November 2008
"People living in Ashdene Avenue say the privately-owned plot which fronts their road has been an eyesore for the past 20 years. The land is occupied by two semi-detached houses which were never finished and has been a target for fly-tippers and squatters over the years.
Residents say things came to a head a fortnight ago when workmen chopped down more than 70 trees on the land, which is next to Eastville Park…
Householders say they have never been kept informed of what has been planned for the land and have never met the owners.
Some residents fear the trees have been cleared to pave the way for more homes to be built. One woman living in the street, who asked not to be named, said: "We just want the area tidied up.
"At one point, the two empty houses were taken over by travellers and there were more than 20 vans parked on the land. It took a year to get the squatters out.
"Lorries have driven up into our cul-de-sac and dumped rubbish and a mound of rubble and soil has been piled up into a mound, spoiling the view for some of the residents.
"Now this piece of woodland has been decimated. No-one has the right to just decide that they will cut down dozens of well-established trees."
According to Land Registry records from 2007, the rectangular piece of land, listed as 11,13, and 15 Ashdene Avenue, is owned by Alice Elisabeth Baisley.
She is listed as living in the US city of Denver and has a 'care of' address in Hanham.
The Evening Post was unable to contact Ms Baisley for a comment. Earlier this year, work was completed on one of the houses on the land.
But neighbours say they don't know if the other two homes, branded 'ghost houses' with their smashed windows and boarded-up doors, will ever be finished. Residents believe the council should either force the developer to tidy the land or buy the land from the landowner."
I'm a local resident; I and at least 4 other residents recognised one of the tree cutters as Lee Farmer, son of the man we believe owns the site. Farmer's business practices are, in my opinion, very suspect and we believe that the land is nominally owned by a shyster company in the US. We're all agreed that the Council will send a small team of suits to the site with clipboards and hard hats and that there will be no follow up. We've already seen a big drop in the local badger population and, since the trees were cut, have seen fewer squirrels and birds.
The public should not take such a defeatist attitude and I hope the Eastville Park Group will use local democratic procedures to force the Council to deal with the situation accordingly. We are lucky to have a democratic system but if people don’t use it then it’s their own fault! However, it isn't right this city’s citizens should have to fight so hard for our green space and wildlife when it is supposed to be protected by the Council's own policies.
If the Council can spend £8.2 million on purchasing the land for the Hengrove development surely we need to see some action regards our existing parks and open public space! Maybe someone should start a campaign for this wood and a petition for a Compulsory Purchase Order to get it in public ownership - where it should rightly be.
p.s. One of the tree fellers had a brown and a blue eye.
I walk my dogs nearly every day in Eastville Park and was astonished to see this terrible destruction of the wood. I thought it was the council and wondered how they could have done this and in such a terrible way.
Hi there people in favour of keeping Eastville wood. Unfortunately now the enforcement notice is off it would seem that the son of one of the consortium that owns the land is back to his old tricks. It would appear he is back to finish the job off without any care or consideration for local residents or the wild life inhabiting the land. If anybody is interested in trying to get this stopped please leave comments at this site.
A small update , the tree preservation order is still in force as of march 2013 and covers an area starting 50m from the back wall of the back newly finished houses and continues following the path line round to the steps down to the lake. Bristol parks own the land running parralel at the rear of the pool to a distance of the14.5m from the pool wall roughly were the badger sets are and hopefully still are despite the owners attempts at quietly moving them on. Be warned bigger things are afoot
A Bristol landowner could face prosecution after 70 trees were felled in woodland at Eastville Park without permission. Residents were shocked when dozens of ash trees, some up to 35 years old, were chopped down by workmen who arrived equipped with chainsaws on Sunday morning. The Forestry Commission is now considering legal action against the landowner because no licence was in place for felling so many trees.
Bare stumps now litter the decimated woodland, which is privately owned and stands next to Eastville Park near Ashdene Avenue. Bristol City Council has reacted by placing tree preservation orders on the remaining trees in the wood in a bid to protect them against further felling. The authority is now trying to establish who owns the land, why the trees were cleared and if they will be replaced.
Patrick Kenehan, who lives in nearby Park Avenue and is a volunteer at the park, says the woods are seen as an extension of the council-owned park. He said: "The way the trees were cut down was very haphazard and indiscriminate. They must have chopped down up to 30 tonnes of wood – it was awful. Someone saw two men with chainsaws carrying out the felling on Sunday and when asked what they were doing they said they were 'doing a clearing job'."
Bristol City Councillor Steve Comer (Lib Dem, Eastville) said: "The trees were chopped down in a very odd way. They were hacked at and it's not what you would expect from professional tree surgeons. I've had a lot of calls about this from people concerned that this could end up ruining a natural woodland which adds to the charm of Eastville Park."
Bristol City Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "The woodland is not subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) nor is it within a Conservation Area. However, a TPO is being served today to protect the remaining trees and site notices have been erected on site. Attempts are being made to contact the landowner to discuss the situation."
The Forestry Commission is investigating whether an offence has been committed under the Forestry Act. Jo Fowler, spokeswoman for the Forestry Commission, said only a small amount of timber should be felled each quarter if no felling licence was held by the landowner.
The trees at Eastville Park were axed just a week after campaigners saved trees in an ancient woodland in Stapleton from the chop. Some 27 trees in Grove Wood next to the River Frome were set to be felled after the council gave the landowner the go-ahead at a meeting in June. But members of the Snuff Mills Action Group gathered a petition of 4,500 signatures and dozens of letters of support for a TPO on the whole wood in Bristol.
An Evening Post Comment
Cutting down the trees is a common ploy used by developers, the presence of trees can be a problem should a planning application be submitted. The council appears to have good green credentials but the truth is houses come first. I work for a tree surgeon and we have just felled 8 perfectly healthy trees on two different inner city sites to make way for new housing. I know its wrong but it is BCCs decision to clear trees for housing and not mine. In this case I suspect more skullduggery is underway. There is a charitable group called Planning Aid who will help you fight any unwanted development.
22 comments:
This would seem to be a knee jerk response to prostitution and drug dealing which has gone on in this area for many years. Why it's suddenly prompted this response is mysterious - it seems an extraordinary response to a problem which will just move to the next secluded area. I've heard there was an application to build on it in the past, so maybe the plan is to put in an application once the trees are out of the way and the habitat has been destroyed. Either way, the way in which it's been done is highly dangerous - the public have been free to wander around while felling is in progress.
It's awful to think, but could this destruction be a panic response by a landowner to the blanket tpo just issued on grove woods? Even more awfully, could this mean more landowners all over Bristol, even Britain, panicing and chopping trees down before local people can protect them? What we really need to stop all these problems is a lot stronger protection for the whole environment against greedy and stupid destroyers. Trees, birds, animals, they can't speak for themselves, they need us to help out.
WENP - I agree: your point about the TPO on nearby Grove Wood might have prompted this work and explain why the felling was done over the weekend when Council staff could not be called out to halt the felling. However, if this is in the conservation area this means planning laws have been broken and the landowner will probably get away with a retrospective permission from the Council, as happened at Grove Wood. The landowner may possibly have been tipped-off as the works are a complete surprise to everyone who uses the park.
Bloody hell that's atrocious.
Anybody know who the owner is ?
My fault, apparently - i'm accused of jinxing the wood by my visit and blog the day before this happened. Of course it's a terrible disgrace, but I partly blame the patronising so-called-greens and environmental campaigners who warn individuals like me away from protesting about tree felling, because we're 'not doing it properly'. To quote a popular film, "It's happening, Reg. Something's actually happening, Reg. Can't you understand?"
I am disgusted. I feel sorry for you poor people in Bristol. there is so little open green space. I am planting a 'private' wood at the moment. This behaviour is disgraceful. Its seems pointless. Its good to maintain trees but this is vandalism, not maintenance.
Landowner to be prosecuted?
http://tinyurl.com/6fxrx3
its up to the landowner what he does with his land
Response to previous comment: Actually it isn't. There are statutory planning regulations (incl. Town & Country Planning Act 1990 and Tree Regulations 1999) and local authority policies for trees just as there are for buildings. As you know, people have to apply to develop their properties because our environment needs to be controlled. It is just the same for the environment, especially the removal of a significant amount of trees.
I really fail to see what the problem is. The destruction of natural habitat in Bristol can not possibly make city any worse simply because it hit rock bottom a long, long time ago. After living in the city for 17 years, I acted on my decision to depart. Those that chose to remain deserve everything that they receive.
The plot of land going down to the lake isn't owned by the council. It was owned by the boys-brigade. The sold to property developers who want to build 40 houses on it. I dont think they've got planning permission for anything yet.
Anonymous said..."its up to the landowner what he does with his land".
What is it with some of these anonymouses?
To my way of seeing Life, saying it's up to the "landowner" is like saying that it's up to the "man of the house" how he treats his wife, children and dog.
A very deluded and out-dated view nowadays.
DonaQixota - I totally agree!
What is wrong with our cultural mindset? People love buildings and architecture yet when it comes to green space and trees they loose all morals and standards. We are somewhat behind other countries as regards green aesthetics.
Think about the work of Capability Brown (Bath Spa campus is a good local example) and the harmony which can exist between the landscape and buildings. If Blaise Castle can be preserved why can't Eastville Park? Oh, I forgot, it doesn't have a Georgian House in the middle of it! LOL!
These destroyers of urban green space are forcing a dichotomous world upon us - one where we are supposed to travel beyond the city edge in order to experience nature, wildlife and green space. The great thing about Bristol is the way the natural habitat comes right to the heart of the city, primarily via our river gorges. If we want to preserve this we will have to get more radical and obtain more political power!
Since this wood has been used by the public and is considered to be part of the park perhaps people should now lobby the Council to consider a Compulsory Purchase Order, especially given the landowner's irresponsibility.
If you live in Eastville you can contact your local councillors about this wood and the future of the park: Steve Comer (LibDem) and Muriel Cole (LibDem). Their contact details are on the Council website:
www.bristol.gov.uk
The woods have been cut down by a rogue property developer who is looking to develop the site.
There have been many clashes between the developer and the local residents going back over ten years.
The council seem powerless or unwilling to do anything to protect the site or to support the objections of local residents. The matter has been rasied more than once with councillers and planning authorities who just sit on their hands and do nothing.
isn't it about time the council DID something about this site before it disappears under a sea of concrete.
I was surprised to learn that a part of Eastville park was under private ownership. I would certainly support a move by the council to put a compulsory purchase on the land.
Is there a reason why this landowner should have the protection of anonymity? It seems wrong that he/she/they can get away with quite terrible environmental vandalism without being named and shamed. The council simply must become more robust in their handling of such deliberate mischief.
The effect of damaging such a relatively large part of the park is likely to have significant impact on wildlife, not just for those creatures that lived in the trees but for anything that regularly passed through or depended on the area for food or cover.
As stated - "The council seem powerless or unwilling to do anything to protect the site or to support the objections of local residents" was exactly the same experience people had with Grove Wood until the planning committee finally realised the necessity for a TPO. What the hell are we paying Council Tax for? The loss of these trees in Eastville Park completely justifies the necessity for TPOs on private land.
The landowner is not anonymous. Probably just no-one had found out who they are. Now, apparently, we know:
Evening Post 20th November 2008
"People living in Ashdene Avenue say the privately-owned plot which fronts their road has been an eyesore for the past 20 years.
The land is occupied by two semi-detached houses which were never finished and has been a target for fly-tippers and squatters over the years.
Residents say things came to a head a fortnight ago when workmen chopped down more than 70 trees on the land, which is next to Eastville Park…
Householders say they have never been kept informed of what has been planned for the land and have never met the owners.
Some residents fear the trees have been cleared to pave the way for more homes to be built. One woman living in the street, who asked not to be named, said: "We just want the area tidied up.
"At one point, the two empty houses were taken over by travellers and there were more than 20 vans parked on the land. It took a year to get the squatters out.
"Lorries have driven up into our cul-de-sac and dumped rubbish and a mound of rubble and soil has been piled up into a mound, spoiling the view for some of the residents.
"Now this piece of woodland has been decimated. No-one has the right to just decide that they will cut down dozens of well-established trees."
According to Land Registry records from 2007, the rectangular piece of land, listed as 11,13, and 15 Ashdene Avenue, is owned by Alice Elisabeth Baisley.
She is listed as living in the US city of Denver and has a 'care of' address in Hanham.
The Evening Post was unable to contact Ms Baisley for a comment.
Earlier this year, work was completed on one of the houses on the land.
But neighbours say they don't know if the other two homes, branded 'ghost houses' with their smashed windows and boarded-up doors, will ever be finished. Residents believe the council should either force the developer to tidy the land or buy the land from the landowner."
I'm a local resident; I and at least 4 other residents recognised one of the tree cutters as Lee Farmer, son of the man we believe owns the site.
Farmer's business practices are, in my opinion, very suspect and we believe that the land is nominally owned by a shyster company in the US.
We're all agreed that the Council will send a small team of suits to the site with clipboards and hard hats and that there will be no follow up.
We've already seen a big drop in the local badger population and, since the trees were cut, have seen fewer squirrels and birds.
The public should not take such a defeatist attitude and I hope the Eastville Park Group will use local democratic procedures to force the Council to deal with the situation accordingly. We are lucky to have a democratic system but if people don’t use it then it’s their own fault! However, it isn't right this city’s citizens should have to fight so hard for our green space and wildlife when it is supposed to be protected by the Council's own policies.
If the Council can spend £8.2 million on purchasing the land for the Hengrove development surely we need to see some action regards our existing parks and open public space! Maybe someone should start a campaign for this wood and a petition for a Compulsory Purchase Order to get it in public ownership - where it should rightly be.
p.s. One of the tree fellers had a brown and a blue eye.
I walk my dogs nearly every day in Eastville Park and was astonished to see this terrible destruction of the wood. I thought it was the council and wondered how they could have done this and in such a terrible way.
Hi there people in favour of keeping Eastville wood. Unfortunately now the enforcement notice is off it would seem that the son of one of the consortium that owns the land is back to his old tricks. It would appear he is back to finish the job off without any care or consideration for local residents or the wild life inhabiting the land. If anybody is interested in trying to get this stopped please leave comments at this site.
A small update , the tree preservation order is still in force as of march 2013 and covers an area starting 50m from the back wall of the back newly finished houses and continues following the path line round to the steps down to the lake.
Bristol parks own the land running parralel at the rear of the pool to a distance of the14.5m from the pool wall roughly were the badger sets are and hopefully still are despite the owners attempts at quietly moving them on.
Be warned bigger things are afoot
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