PROPOSALS for a housing development will now no longer lead to the loss of a much-loved 200-year-old lime tree, but it will take up a large chunk of a village green, parish councillors heard.
Evenwood and Barony Parish Council objected to plans for 38 homes at Kays Hall Farm when they met in November last year because a new access road to the site would have meant the tree on the village green would have to go.
Parish councillors were also worried about the safety of the new access.
MP Helen Goodman raised fears about the loss of part of the green. Revised plans for access to the site were submitted by the developer, John Linsley, earlier this month.
Speaking at the parish council’s January meeting, clerk Martin Clark said: “The recommendation is not to move the lime tree, but it will mean taking more of the village green to become an adopted road.
“There are 90 documents [related to the planning application] but not one from the highways and that is the one everyone is waiting on.”
Chairwoman Cllr Barbara Nicholson added: “There is nothing we are going to get out of this. The adopted road and adopted path is to benefit them.”
Asked if the parish council was consulted about the road taking up more of the green, Cllr Nicholson explained that the land belongs to the church.
Mr Clark added: “We are just the custodians of the green.”
Concern was expressed that more traffic in the area would cause damage to other unadopted roads in the vicinity.
It was noted that heavy equipment used during recent archaeological excavations at the site had already “churned up” parts of the roads. Further concern was expressed about the new access taking away parking on Raby Street.
The council agreed to re-submit an objection to the proposal.
