Storm breaks over the felling of Green Belt trees

A STORM has broken over the felling of a row of trees to make way for the development of Europe’s largest truck wash facility on green belt land at Lymm.
Developers have put in an application for permission to remove the trees – but nearby residents claim the trees have already been felled.
Controversial plans for the truck wash on land off Cliff Lane, Lymm have already been approved by Warrington Borough Council, but residents claim the developers originally said that a number of trees – 11 Leyland Cypress and two Scots Pines – would be retained to screen a group of seven houses at Cherry Corner.
The proposed truck wash will replace one at Lymm Services at the intersection of the M6 and M56. It was granted planning consent earlier this year despite strenuous opposition from residents.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, who last year built a new multi million £ fire station on adjoining land, also opposed the scheme
Resident Diane Hoskinson said she believed planning consent for the truck wash had only been granted because misleading information was given to the council.
However, it had been stipulated that trees which screened nearby houses should be retained.
“Earlier this week, however, the trees were felled in advance of an application for permission to remove them. I used to see trees when I looked out of my window but now they have gone and I have a view the nearby fire station and the site where the truck wash is to be built.
“Firefighters training at high levels are now able to see into our bathroom and bedroom windows.
“In the original application, it was stated that the new truck wash would be smaller than the existing one but they have now put up a sign saying it will be the biggest in Europe’
But Matt Marsden, spokesman for the site owners, denied the company had done anything wrong.
He said: “We have just been carrying out good housekeeping – tidying the site up after it being neglected for more than 20 years.
“We consulted the resident who lives nearest to the site and he approved our proposals. We will be carrying out landscaping and replacing the trees we have removed with a good quality fence. The trees were well passed their best and should have been removed years ago.
A council spokesperson said: “The matter is under investigation by the public protection team in relation to the works on site and we are responding to the issues raised in terms of both the air quality and noise assessments. It would therefore be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”