A company has responded after residents raised concerns about work being done on an industrial estate. Workers have been excavating a grassy area on the Europa Trading Estate in Stoneclough. Residents say that grass has been dug up and and trees uprooted and replaced with hardcore, saying it had made view from their homes less attractive.
The concerned residents cited a planning document from 1973, when the industrial estate was originally built, which gave a condition that there must be at least a 60ft area for "screening and landscaping" between it and nearby housing. However, the company responsible for the work, First Investment Real Estate Management (FIREM), says the work being done comes under permitted development. Permitted development allows certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application.
It also says it will provide "additional landscaping and planting along the boundary". The site which used to be grassy (Image: Newsquest) Resident Ken Wright said: "The trees and greenery were there to shield the industrial estate from us. That had been done when we moved in over 35 years ago, it was lovely, you would see foxes, rabbits, hares.
"Now they have excavated the area, demolished the mounds of grass and cut trees down. Read more: Appeal against rejection of dormer and loft conversion Read more: Scheme to revive vacant town centre offices as 'four-star boutique hotel' Read more: New pedestrian crossing and traffic.