Fentons Wood Saved

J.T.Klaschka - 18.03.2010

I’m delighted to tell readers that the intent to desecrate Fenton’s Wood by tearing out its heart in order to build a few high values houses has been stopped in its tracks. Revised plans required by Suffolk Coastal District Council restrict housing to Area FF leaving the wood intact. The number of houses has been reduced to 48 including a proper proportion of affordable homes. This success is down to the efforts of District Councillor Mary Kneale and the council’s conservation officers. Their painstaking research into woodland and conservation regulation found the previous plans in breach of legislation on a number of counts. The Labour government’s drive for so-called efficient use of land hands developers a licence for the wholesale destruction of trees, shrubs and bushes so they can to cram in the maximum number of houses at minimum cost. then . The traditional approach of relying on the local plan provisions ends up with the developer prevailing and costs awarded against the District Council. It demonstrates yet again that if we are to win against these developments we have to think outside the box.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------