FROME residents have criticised the “destruction” of a beloved green space in their town mere weeks after Somerset County Council declared an ecological emergency.
Packsaddle Fields, which lies at the town’s northern edge, has been owned by the council since 1973 and was originally earmarked for a new school.
The council announced in March that it was selling the land off, entering into an agreement with housing association LiveWest to deliver up to 90 new homes on the fields north of Packsaddle Way.
The newly-formed People for Packsaddle (PfP) pressure group have now criticised the council for allowing the fields to be cleared by bulldozers, damaging the local wildlife just weeks after the full council made a commitment to protecting it.
The full council declared an ecological emergency in June earlier in the year, with the newly-elected Liberal Democrat administration promising to “ensure that across the county biodiversity is improved, environments enriched and the destruction of habitats is resisted when development occurs.”
Cllr Sarah Dyke, portfolio holder for the environment and climate change, stated at the time, “We need to take positive action to reverse the damage on our natural habitats and we will be encouraging Somerset’s residents, businesses and landowners to reduce pesticide use and eliminate peat use, making a positive impact on our environment.
“Only by working together can we avoid this emergency and protect our ecology for generations to come.”
Developers are required to undertake in-depth ecological surveys of any site upon which they wish to build, to ensure that native species are protected and the impact of the new homes are suitably mitigated (e.g. through bat boxes).
Cllr Adam Boyden, who represents the Frome North division, confirmed in March that LiveWest would be undertaking such a survey ahead of a formal planning application being submitted.
LiveWest confirmed, “The first part of the process is for us to undertake surveys and investigations to consider the opportunities and constraints of developing the site.
“As part of fully understanding the findings of this exploratory work and before any planning proposals are submitted, we will engage and seek the views and opinions of the community.”
By late-August, bulldozers had moved onto Packsaddle Fields and completely cleared the site, after the council concluded that there were no biodiversity, climate, social or community impacts to building on the site.
However, PfP member Janet Hughes said, “In our view, and that of any reasonable person, this is complete nonsense.
“We want to know how the council can get away with claiming that the destruction of Packsaddle Fields has no adverse impact on the community or the environment.”
Fellow PfP member Toby Culff added, “The reckless clearance of these much-loved fields has galvanised local opinion.
“There is anger about the tactics being used by the council, and its complete shocking indifference to the concerns of the community.”
Formal plans for the site are expected to be submitted to Mendip District Council before the end of the year.
