Tree cull on old hospital site concerns residents (From This Is Local London)

Tree cull on old Colindale Hospital site concerns residents

8:50am Thursday 25th March 2010 in Where I Live By Kevin Bradford

Tree cull on old Colindale Hospital site concerns residents

THE destruction of nearly 100 trees in Colindale has turned woodland into a barren building site, according to residents.

Up to 60 species of tree have been removed from the site of the former Colindale Hospital, in Colindale Avenue, to make way for 700 homes.

People living nearby said the trees were removed in just one day last week, leaving a building site as the view from their back gardens.

Many were protected under special orders banning the cutting down, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or destruction of the trees without the planning authority’s permission.

However Barnet Council staff confirmed planning permission for an area overrides any orders, leaving the developers, Fairview New Homes free to clear the site.

Martin Smith's house, in Colindale Avenue, backs onto the hospital grounds. He said: “It was idyllic, but I have gone from looking out on to a forest to a car park.

“They have been working doing a few bits and pieces for a few years, but I was just shocked to see this.

“I am not some sort of liberal tree-hugger, it just seems a terrible shame to lose them.”

In 2008, a tree consultancy company applied to remove 81 trees on the site. Although that application was later withdrawn, it showed species in the collection included a weeping willow, horse chestnuts, and a maple, along with fruit trees such as apple and plum.

Permission was granted for the redevelopment last November, and is set to include homes, a new primary care trust facility, shops and a children's play area and landscaping.

Mr Smith said residents in the area had been fighting plans to cut down the trees for three years and had been surprised planning permission allowed protected trees to be removed.

“What is the point of having a tree protection order if a developer can come in and ride roughshod over them when they are granted permission?” demanded the 45-year-old, who has lived in the same property for almost 20 years.

“I have not got any objection to the regeneration. It could be a good thing because it is an unused bit of land at the moment, but if the building could have been done around the trees it would have been wonderful.

“It is in the developer's remit to plant extra trees, but that is no good for anybody for 50 or 60 years.”

Stuart Edwards, project director at Fairview New Homes, confirmed planting would take place around the completed site and added: “We received permission for the development and the tree removal in November and everything we have done has been in accordance with that.”