Trees protected on Ludlow homes site

Shropshire Council has agreed to put a hold on any order to cut the trees down for the moment as plans for bungalows, on the land between Sidney Road, Sheet Road and Charlton Rise in Ludlow, have yet to be considered.

The bungalow plan has been revealed by housing association Shropshire Housing Group, though has yet to be formally submitted.

It has already proven controversial with members of Ludlow Town Council, who want to protect the grassy area as a "town park" – and make the tree protection order permanent.

The six-month tree protection order has been granted after the county authority was contacted by Ludlow Town Council last week, and comes after one of the four trees on the green was felled in October last year.

Further felling was stopped by action from county councillors Tracey Huffer and Andy Boddington at the time.

Councillor Huffer, representing Ludlow East, said the newly issued order would protect the remaining three Norway Maples trees for six months.

She said: “It is good news that an interim TPO is now in place. “This development is going to be very controversial. We have a desperate need for more bungalows in Ludlow. But many people will oppose the loss of much of the green and the felling of another tree. We need the fullest debate before Shropshire Council decides whether or not to approve the development.

"We don’t want of repeat of what happened last October when a tree was cut down without any notice or consultation with residents.

“I have had recent conversations with residents of Sidney Road. They tell me that when the bungalows were built, the Mayor of Ludlow asked if they would like to club together to buy the trees that were planted on the green.

“It seems that these trees may not be the property of the housing association. I’d really like to hear from residents if they know anything more about the history of the trees.

“I’ll be consulting with nearby residents and I would like to hear from anyone who has an opinion about the proposed development.”

Shropshire Housing Group announced plans to build 13 new bungalows in "underused" areas around Ludlow in recent weeks, with seven of them hoped to be on the green area off Sheet Road.

Plans show the bungalows would replace the central tree, though the two others next to the road would remain, with three more saplings will be planted.

Shropshire Housing Group has said Ludlow is in "dire need" of more social housing for the elderly close to the town centre, but there are very few sites to build so it hopes the plans will be welcomed by the community.