Crowland tree felled by Ashwood Homes gets retrospective approval from South Holland District Council planning committee

Amendments to retrospectively approve a felled tree have been approved.

A tree preservation order previously confirmed in 2019 had protected an ash tree within the former Allotment Gardens at Parish Mews, Crowland.

Rather than apply to remove the tree, Ashwood Homes felled it in January this year. The developer was looking to agree the layout without the protected tree - and South Holland District Council’s planning committee unanimously passed the application last Wednesday.

The original plans were for a new residential development, replacement allotments and a new cemetery.

Coun Jim Astill said the ordeal has been causing ‘a lot of noise’ with Crowland residents. He claimed that the controversy had distracted from the town’s parish council ‘trying to secure its own future’ financially.

Coun Bryan Alcock, who sits on the planning committee and Crowland Parish Council, responded: “I have no financial interest in this whatsoever.” He added: “It’s been a catalogue of difficulties but rest assured that the parish council have persevered under difficult

circumstances and now have a great investment.”