A RESIDENT of Bracknell estate The Evergreens has approached Wokingham.Today to explain why their community is angry with Bracknell Forest Council and property developer The Hill Group.
Woodland beside their Evergreen homes is currently being felled to make way for a controversial housing development, Beaufort Park, which will add 226 new homes to the area.
Existing residents are not only distressed by the felling of trees, and the damage they say is being done to local wildlife, but are also unhappy about the way the work has been carried out, and what they say is an inadequate response from Bracknell Forest Council to their concerns.
“It all started 16 months ago when we knew the development was approved,” said a resident.
“We were told a tree buffer would be left in place between The Evergreens and Beaufort Park.
“But the developers crossed over the boundary into our area and cut down unnecessary trees, which caused an uproar.
“Work was paused, but then, a few weeks ago the council approved the developers to continue again.
“Even councillors themselves have called the Beaufort Park development ‘a mess’ — and yet they’ve still approved the work.
“Within days, heavy machinery was clearing land of trees without proper boundary confirmation or council monitoring.”
At a public meeting about the issue, residents described the stress the work was causing them, and the harm done to local wildlife.
“We were dismissed,” said the resident.
“The leader of Bracknell Forest Council Cllr Mary Templeton wasn’t interested in our views.
“She said there were plenty of other tree corridors in Bracknell for wildlife.”
“A tree officer also at the meeting explained that it wasn’t possible to know if trees destined to stay would be stable until the rest were felled – so we may not even have the tree boundary we were promised.
“The council said they need to protect Evergreens residents, but in reality this isn’t happening.
“They are not monitoring anything that is happening.”
The resident went on to explain that several households were recently woken up early in the morning by Hill Group contractors asking if they could use their drives to park forest retrieval equipment on.
“It was so insensitive, when they know how upset we are about the whole thing,” they explained.
“And when we protested to Hill Group, they just said they would try to make sure it didn’t happen again.”
Residents have also complained to Bracknell Forest Council about the use of heavy machinery to fell trees instead of hand-felling those closest to the boundary as promised.
“We’re feeling the vibrations in our homes, which can lead to structural damage and cracks,” said the resident.
“My dog is terrified.”
The woodland has been a sanctuary for many locals, and watching it being destroyed, especially after they had begged for a buffer zone and accountability, has been heartbreaking, they say.
“I have emailed councillors for answers, but their replies are short and dismissive,” the resident explained.
“They can have no idea how tired we all are of it.
“Honestly, I want them and Hills to admit that they’re not protecting residents who already live here, they are just protecting houses that aren’t yet occupied.
“In emails and discussions, we’re often just referred to as ‘dwellings’ – we’re not, we’re people with feelings and emotions.
“We all knew we couldn’t stop the development, but common courtesy and just being heard would have been enough for us.”
Andrew Hunter, executive director for place, planning and regeneration at Bracknell Forest Council, said: “The council has issued various planning approvals for work on both the Evergreens and Beaufort Park developments, following applications from the relevant developer relating to protection of retained trees and replacement landscaping.
“Compliance with planning conditions is the responsibility of the developer, and any breaches will be investigated by the council’s planning enforcement team. Residents should contact the developer directly with concerns in the first instance.”
“As residents, we would like an apology,” said the Evergreens resident, “and for the council to realise in future that when they have public meetings they shouldn’t dismiss our views.
“It all speaks to a bigger regional issue.
“Councils under development pressure are approving destructive plans while claiming to value biodiversity and climate action.
“It’s a warning sign for all communities facing similar threats.”
