Decemation of the A507 environment

I'm writing in relation to the works that are being taken along the A507, specifically the removal of near all of the trees along the stretch by Station Road. I've been informed that the road and the works that are taking place along it are the responsibility of CBC.

There is significant concern by a large number of the local residents for several reasons: The lack of transparency over the extent of the works The lack of public consultation over works and their impact on the local environment The lack of planning to mitigate the state of the road and its surroundings after the works. The impact that the state of the surrounding area has been left in, on the quality of life of the residents. Lack of transparency We received a letter, dated 27 October that informed us of the works and the dates of the road closure. At no point in that letter did it explain the extent of the works and how it would transform our local area from a tree-lined, green area, to one that resembles a labour camp. It has taken until the works have started for us to get some semblance of answers from the Council as to what the extent of these works are, and even then it has been very difficult to get any full answers.

Lack of public consultation These works will have a huge detrimental effect on the residents for long after the duration of the works themselves. At no point were residents informed or consulted about the works or the effect that it would have on the area. This surely highly negligent on the part of those that have planned and approved the works.

The detrimental impact on the local residents Many of us purchased houses in the immediate areas surrounding the industrial site and A507 knowing that there was mitigation for the noise and sight of the industrial units through the significant number of trees and greenery. These have now been completely stripped away, leaving an appalling sight for us to live next to, or in some cases look directly on to from our houses. The industrial sound and noise coming from the site was also mitigated to a substantial degree by the tall trees. Now that they are gone, we will have to suffer from far louder noise in our houses, some of which has recently been above that permitted by law. It is completely unacceptable that there is no plan to plan and implement mitigations or the dreadful sight that we now have to live with. The removal of trees is one thing, but then not to provide any sort of tall fencing, or baffles to counteract that appalling sight is something completely separate. Not only does this impact the lives of the residents now and in the short term, but I would be shocked if this didn't affect our ability to sell our houses at the value that they one were, in the long term.

The residents have begun to explore options on how we take this forward - environmental, community and legal. We would welcome a number of actions: Some sort of public meeting to discuss the issues A plan put in place and executed in the very near future to mitigate the appalling state that the area is now left in An acknowledgement that should there be further works of this magnitude, that there will be better attempts to communicate and consult the local community. Can you please get back to me in relation to the above points and how we can take them forward.