TREES on Elms Field have been removed as work on the Wokingham’s town centre regeneration gets under way.
Last week, contractors for Wokingham Borough Council started the process of removing the trees as part of its preparation work for a project that will see a hotel, supermarket and cinema built on land by The Plaza, off Denmark Street.
A number of trees will be kept and the council said that these will be fenced off during the works.
Some of the trees felled during this stage of the development will be stored safely during the works and the tree trunks reused as part of the new park.
And, when the new Elms Field is finished there will be new trees planted with an emphasis on improving bio-diversity across the site. The council said that its plans incorporate a range of initiatives such as bird and bat nesting boxes, hedgehog boxes and planting specially selected for improved bird feeding and to support invertebrates.
But they also acknowledge that residents are upset about the works, which are taking place now ahead of the nesting season.
Main construction is expected to commence next month once preparatory works are complete.
Cllr Stuart Munro, executive member for business and economic development and regeneration, said: “While we recognise this work is sensitive and will upset some people, the Elms Field project is important for Wokingham. We need to deliver the facilities our town needs to thrive over the coming years and will keep people coming back to Wokingham.
“I also want to reassure people that a large open space and play area remains at the heart of the Elms Field scheme. We’ve put a huge amount of time into coming up with great designs that will create a fantastic town centre park with lots of grassed areas, attractive planting and plenty of seating for people to relax in the space.
“There’s also a bigger and better destination play area for families and lots of features to support local fayres and events with reinforced paths, water and power integrated onto the site.”
McLaughlin & Harvey has been appointed as Wokingham Borough Council’s main contractor for the site.
Its operations director Paul McLaughlin said: “We are delighted to be making progress with the works on-site. Our first activities include securing the site boundary and tree felling. Much effort has been put into minimising the extent of the works and developing an approach to maintain access as long as possible during the initial works.”
However, Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, the Liberal Democrat Wokingham Borough Councillor for Emmbrook Ward, warned that the works come at a cost to the community.
In a letter to The Wokingham Paper, which will be printed on Thursday, she said: “I, for one, do not believe that destroying our heritage is the price we should be paying for progress.”
Work on Elms Field is expected to complete in phases from the end of 2019 through to 2020.
