News Orders made to save trees
A battle over 265 trees at the Centreport site near Goole was settled earlier this week when East Riding councillors decided that the trees should each be made subject to a tree preservation order.
Planning officers at East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) recommended that the trees should be protected as they felt that the greenery created an important barrier between the industrial site and Oakhill Country Park.
But developers Sterling St James objected to the order, claiming it would restrict opportunities for business development.
The site was formerly called Centreport, but after being bought by Sterling Capitol it is being re-branded as Capitol Park, Goole, to bring it in line with Capitol Park at Leeds, and Capitol Park, Barnsley.
This week, Goole Town councillor Kester Dean accused the developer of the Centreport site of being 'stuck in the 1960s', due to its attempt to remove protection from what he considered to be the best collection of trees in the Goole area.
He said: "Developers appealed against a tree preservation order to conserve approximately 200 mature trees lying between Centreport and the proposed Oakhill Country Park. The area is not in the outline planning permission for Centreport and was designated as an 'ecological zone'.
"To get planning permission the developer, Leeds-based Sterling Capitol Developments, had to issue an environmental statement and this statement said that none of the trees in question was threatened by the development."
Prior to the tree preservation orders coming into force this week, Cllr Dean also praised the East Riding of Yorkshire Council for issuing a report recommending the permanent protection of the trees.
He added: "The East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been forward-thinking in seeking to protect these trees. The position of the trees does not prevent the development of the neighbouring land.
"There are about 200 acres to develop where there are no trees at all. In fact, the trees will enhance the development by making it more attractive to investors and will also improve the amenity of the Oakhill Country Park. Yet again, the developer has shown they are stuck in the 1960s with their idea that development is about destroying everything."
This week, developer Sterling Capitol told the Goole Times that it does not wish to comment "at this stage".
Following this week's decision, Cllr Dean added: "Every councillor on the ERYC western area planning committee agreed that the preservation order should be confirmed - a victory for common sense over stupidity and greed. I was particularly pleased to see representations from Friends of Oakhill carefully considered by the Council.
"These trees comprise specimens over 100 years old, including a great diversity of species in an area otherwise lacking in mature trees. That Sterling Capitol Developments has taken a large sum of taxpayers' cash and put forward proposals to fell 200 of our best trees is absolutely disgraceful.
"This was one of the worst attempts at corporate vandalism I have ever experienced."
Published on 16th August 2007 in News.
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