Objections mount to controversial Thornton flats proposal

Plans to demolish the Craiglands property on Hillylaid Road, Thornton, in order to build 33 retirement flats in its place, sparked controversy in July 2019 when trees surrounding the house were felled.

Neighbours and Wyre residents voiced their concerns about the disruption of nesting birds and potential harm to wildlife during the works.

But Wyre Council said the trees felled were not protected by a Tree Preservation Order, enabling developers to destroy them.

Since then, the council pledged to investigate Thornton residents' claims that the developers, Poulton company James Carter Homes, had breached The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The Act outlines that all nesting birds and their eggs are protected by law, and therefore "intentionally or recklessly disturbing any wild bird while it is nest building, or at a nest containing eggs or young, or disturbing the dependent young of such a bird" is an offence.

The Gazette contacted Wyre Council for an update on the progress of the investigation.

The plans, which are still set to be discussed by planners at the council, continued to receive objections this week, 11 months after they were initially submitted.

One neighbour said: "I strongly object to the building of these apartments as this area is already a builder's paradise purely for profit.

"The correct procedures were not followed in any instance by the contractor; which led to a total decimation of 100-year-old trees which were feeding grounds etc according to the bat surveyors.

"The sheer bulldozing of this site and mass destruction to wildlife was sickening to local residents, especially as no planning permission had been granted at the time."

Another objector questioned the result of the project's Bat Survey, which stated there was "no evidence of roosting bats" in the Craiglands property.

They said: "I have lived close to this property for over 15 years and habitually watched many bats flying around the gardens in the evenings.

"Since the mature trees were felled in July 2019 there has been a very marked reduction in bat activity.

"Approving this application would give the green light to developers to ignore Planning Rules and would encourage others to follow suit."

Ecologist David Dutton, from the Greater Manchester Ecology Unit, acknowledged that while no evidence of roosting bats was found, "high levels of bat activity was recorded along the eastern and northern boundaries."

Mr Dutton also informed Wyre Council planners that "the site was of high potential for nesting birds prior to clearance.

"Whilst most of this potential has now been lost, I note some nesting habitat is present around the building proposed for demolition an probably elsewhere around the site."

He advised that the demolition, or felling of further trees, was not to take place between March 1 and August 31 of any year to protect bird species.

Further documents showed the viability of the project had been doubted by the developer itself, which challenged the requirement of the council's affordable housing contribution.

Affordable housing contributions are fees developers pay to the local authority which can be put towards an affordable housing fund.

In a letter to Wyre Council, James Carter Homes said the "project would not be viable should the extra costs required by planning payments (contribution to affordable housing) were to be imposed."

It continued: "The figures show that this development is only marginally viable for a speculative scheme.

"If Wyre Council were to impose affordable housing, or indeed any extra planning cost to this scheme, then it would be unviable and remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future. There is clearly a requirement, and a demand for quality retirement apartments in this area."