Fury as ‘heavy handed’ council employees chop down hedges on Sandbanks
- Workers from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council undertook the in depth pruning
- Residents stated the employees had gone too far and ‘devastated the realm’
- Council additionally accused of being ‘heavy handed’ by ‘hacking down’ the hedges
Council employees who stripped again hedges have been accused of making an ‘eyesore’ in one in every of England’s most unique areas.
Workers at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council in the reduction of an overgrown hedgerow in Sandbanks after locals complained overgrown foliage was scratching their costly vehicles.
However, a number of well-heeled residents stated the workmen had gone too far and ‘devastated the realm’ after calling for the hedges to be higher maintained.
They accused BCP Council of being ‘heavy handed’ by ‘hacking down’ the hedges as a substitute of simply trimming them again.
There have been even claims that the employees had acted to enhance the views of residents in unique flats, though this was denied.
The overgrown hedges earlier than they have been lower down in Banks Road in Sandbanks
Local have accused Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council of being ‘heavy-handed’ when endeavor the pruning
BCP Council undertook the work after locals complained overgrown foliage was scratching their costly vehicles
Caroline Papp, 52, a profession coach who lives in close by Ashley Cross and steadily walks in Sandbanks, stated: ‘It is an absolute eyesore; I do not perceive why they wanted to be in the reduction of fairly a lot.
‘It is horrible, they should think about the wildlife; birds nesting within the hedges may have nowhere to go. It is vital to have greenery in our space.
‘I do know that you must in the reduction of the hedges yearly to not block the trail however that is far past a tough prune.
‘They have devastated these hedges and I think it’s a cost-cutting train because it was cheaper to do it that means.’
A Sandbanks resident, who requested to stay nameless, stated: ‘It seems horrible, I do not know why they did not trim them as a substitute of hacking it down.’
However, different locals praised the council for a ‘nice and proactive choice’.
Sandie Smith stated: ‘I feel it’s a nice choice – the vegetation might be contemporary and reinvigorated for the summer time.
Sandbanks is one essentially the most unique areas on the South Coast with homes costing hundreds of thousands
The council have stated bettering residents’ views was ‘not a part of their consideration’
‘We cannot let issues go to rack and spoil; we have to be proactive.’
Another native, Stephen Allen stated: ‘The hedges have been utterly overgrown as that they had not been lower since earlier than the pandemic, when they need to be finished yearly.
‘They had turn into a security hazard as there’s a zebra crossing and while you drove down the street individuals would all of the sudden seem from behind the hedge and you would need to do an emergency cease.
‘It was an accident ready to occur. The council have utterly chopped it again and it seems ugly in the mean time however it should develop again.
‘I do know they’re cash-strapped however they should do a greater job sustaining this space of Sandbanks.’
Sandbanks, which is made up of about 800 households, has a number of well-known residents together with former soccer supervisor Harry Redknapp
Sandbanks in Dorset options a few of the costliest actual property within the nation and has attracted celebrities reminiscent of chef Rick Stein and Premier League supervisor Harry Redknapp
A spokesman for BCP Council stated coppicing wouldn’t hurt wildlife and regrowth will seem within the spring when vegetation begin to produce flower heads.
He insisted bettering residents’ views was ‘not a part of their consideration’ and so they as a substitute acted as a ‘security’ measure.
Councillor Andy Hadley, portfolio holder at BCP Council for local weather response, surroundings and power stated: ‘The tamarisk hedgerows on Banks Road have been coppiced.
‘This is regular follow to enhance the well being of the plant, stop tangled branches and promote dense heads of foliage.
One native described the pruned bushes as an ‘absolute eyesore’ after they have been in the reduction of
BCP Council stated coppicing wouldn’t hurt wildlife and regrowth will seem within the spring
‘In this occasion, the protection of pedestrians and street customers within the space was additionally a big issue within the choice to coppice, as we had obtained a number of reviews of the hedge impacting on the road of sight of individuals utilizing the crossing level exterior the Sandbanks Hotel, and the general public crossing from the seaside to the Tesco Express.
‘The vegetation had very thick woody progress and now this may be maintained every winter with none impression to the general public, wildlife, or street customers.
‘Regrowth will seem within the spring when the plant begins to provide flower heads.
‘These are good for bees, butterflies, and some other pollinators in that space. There isn’t any impression on wildlife.’
The seafront going through properties at Sandbanks can promote for as a lot as £13.5million and the picturesque location has attracted the likes of superstar chef Rick Stein, former soccer managers Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness and the pc magnate Sir Peter Ogden.
Earlier this month, superstar inside designer Celia Sawyer slammed council officers for permitting her neighbour to maintain an unlawful balcony that overlooks her Sandbanks backyard the place she sunbathes in a bikini.
The Channel 4 Four Rooms star stated she was appalled that neighbour Neil Kennedy ‘received away’ with flouting planning guidelines on his £4million residence in Poole Harbour.
Meanwhile, Mr Redknapp received planning permission to construct an Italian-style luxurious villa after he bulldozed his £7million residence in Sandbanks earlier than the native council gave permission in September.
The former soccer supervisor and his spouse Sandra paid virtually £7million for the 60-year-old indifferent home on the Dorset peninsula earlier this 12 months.
