Residents campaign to save Wherry's Spinney in Bourne from plans for 10 self-build homes
Residents are campaigning against plans for 10 self-build homes in Bourne, which they say will destroy much-loved woodland.
They have begun contacting councillors, are submitting objections to the proposals and seeking tree preservation orders at the site known as Wherry’s Spinney.
Chris Shilling, 54, of Elsea Park says his now-adult children used to use the woodland as a playground, adding promised facilities such as football pitches were never delivered.
“I would like to think their kids can play here.”
Harriett Dixon, 10, said: “I love coming here to make dens. It’s so much better than the man-made parks.”
Steve Giullari, 42, says the woodland was made from spoil banks from when the railways were built more than 100 years ago.
“It has historical value. It’s something that’s ours and is being taken away.”
Ayla Smith, 37, said the site has great crested newts and two badger sets, plus nesting bats and owls.
“They use the whole area as their territory.”
Peter Sharpe said wildlife need the ‘uniquely atmospheric’ woodland for foraging.
“Apart from stealing one of the most attractive parts of this much-loved amenity, this proposed development will simultaneously encircle this habitat with housing and destroy this essential wildlife corridor.”
Peter also notes trees in the spinney have been marked as if for removal on safety grounds.
“This is essentially untrue; these are healthy, mature oak trees, which just happen to be in the way of this disastrous scheme.”
Peter is seeking tree preservation orders from South Kesteven District Council.
He added: “This objection is receiving widespread support from residents, as is demonstrated by the huge response on the Facebook pages of both the dedicated page of Save Our Spinney and in the Bourne Rural Lincs community group.”
Shelly Noble, 46, of nearby Great Northern Gardens said her street is already difficult for traffic as it is narrow.
With the proposed development using it as access for 30 cars, she added: “It’s going to be horrendous.”
However, the outline application to South Kesteven District Council from Bourne planning agent John Dickie said the 11,000m square site
is ‘unmanaged and neglected’.
Many of the site’s 158 trees are in ‘poor overall condition’ with many also ‘structurally unsound’.
Thirty nine (mostly hawthorn) trees are proposed for felling, but 50 trees (five for each plot) would be planted.
Building the 10 homes would allow for active woodland management and for the southern two acres to become a Community Woodland Park with unfettered public access.
Landscape planting would ‘restore and enrich tree cover on the site’.
Upgrading routes and pathways ‘will provide a significantly safer environment’ than exists now.
It also said: “Overall the development proposals represent a demonstrable and significant enhancement to the whole of The Spinney.”
