QUESTIONS have been raised after Colchester Council listed a heavily wooded plot of land for industrial development...despite encouraging residents to help “green the borough”.
The three-acre Plot 600 site, situated at The Crescent, in Colchester Business Park, is mostly covered by trees, but it is now earmarked for commercial development.
The land, which is owned by Colchester Council, may now be transformed into an urban site which could see the trees removed as it is advertised as space for “office/industrial development”.
However, when approached by the Gazette, the council stated any planning application relating to the site if purchased will be subject to its planning policies.
But the move has been deemed hypocritical as the authority declared a climate emergency in Colchester in July 2019.
Read more: 'Rare and irreplaceable' medals stolen from Colchester museum in nighttime raid
Its Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project, which launched in the same year, also urged residents to help “green the borough”.
Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell, who as mayor in 1986 led a major tree-planting campaign, said: “The axing of three acres of trees by the council on land it owns is astonishing. This hardly fits with its commitment to plant trees when it is destroying trees.
"Hopefully many of the trees, particularly where the site is next to the A12 Colchester Northern Bypass, will be kept.
“I suggest as a means of atonement for this act of destruction of trees, all the money received from the sale of the land will be used for extensive tree planting throughout Colchester.”
Colchester Council, however, argued the sale comes as part of its Local Plan.
A council spokeswoman said: “Colchester Council, through Savills, is marketing a three-acre plot of land located within Colchester Business Park – a site identified for commercial development within both the adopted and emerging Local Plan.
“Any subsequent planning application relating to this site will be subject to the council’s planning policies, including those related to the allocation as well as those that seek to preserve the natural environment
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel