The developer of a major Ruddington housing project is causing "unnecessary upset" by failing to honour a promise to have trees planted between existing houses and new ones. The Fairham Green development off Wilford Road will contain 167 houses and the company behind the project agreed to have a full row of trees planted along its southern boundary.
The developers, Bloor Homes, gave its full backing to the idea last July, with the trees due to be planted in a narrow gap between existing homes and the boundary fencing for the new development. The trees would have stretched around 223 metres along the southern boundary and would have been planted in honour of the late Queen as part of the Queen's Green Canopy project (QGC).
But a letter has now been written to the directors of Bloor Homes after residents spotted fencing being built in the gap where the trees were supposed to be going. The letter, signed by Rushcliffe's MP and three borough councillors, calls on Bloor Homes to move the installed fencing so that the gap for trees can be reinstated.
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Residents in existing homes had agreed to do the tree planting themselves, with Bloor Homes funding 106 saplings. But emails from Bloor Homes staff now reportedly say there has been an "internal miscommunication" about the tree planting.
The Brookside Residents' Action Group (BRAG) was set up specifically to do the tree planting, with a spokesperson for the group saying: "It's inconceivable Bloor Homes has decided to drop this bizarre bombshell on us when residents have been clearing the gap and we were on the eve of planting the trees.
"It makes no sense for them to effectively pull the plug by narrowing the planting gap from a few feet to a few inches when we've been in collaboration for over eight months. Even if there has been 'internal miscommunication' at Bloor's end about the void, it's still not too late to allow royal row of trees for The QGC as agreed with them behind our back borders."
Bloor Homes said in March that it was unsure when fencing along the southern boundary of Fairham Green would be erected, but gave residents the go-ahead to plant the trees in the gap anyway. It was later that month when fencing in the gap earmarked for trees was found.
BRAG now says that Bloor Homes has reviewed the title land deeds and says the trees cannot be planted where originally agreed. A spokesperson from Bloor Homes confirmed: "We have offered two other suitable locations at the development and hope to find a resolution soon.
"Meanwhile the trees we have purchased are being cared for and will be planted as soon as the decision on which location is made." Residents say they are currently looking after all of the 106 saplings themselves.
But in regards to a different location for the trees, Rushcliffe's Conservative MP, Ruth Edwards, said: "The other locations Bloor suggests will not provide the green screen or narrow wildlife corridor that would also allow existing residents reasonable access to their back, to maintain their borders.
"It is still totally in the gift of Bloor's to allow The QGC of trees on this edge of the development as they and we intended. They say they're committed to working with the community, so they should do the right thing; listen, and allow the trees to be planted along this stretch.
"Surely anyone sensible higher up the chain at Bloor could resolve this, if they wanted to, instead of causing all this unnecessary upset?" Bloor Homes added: "We sincerely apologise for any confusion caused between Bloor Homes and the residents at Ruddington. We are aware of the importance of this project to the local community and are committed to working with them to ensure the trees are planted."
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