Protected woodland on the border of Cowes and Gurnard has been ‘absolutely obliterated’ without the consent of one of its owners, it has emerged..
As previously reported by Island Echo, trees and vegetation behind Princes’ Esplanade and Egypt Esplanade were torn down, causing uproar in the community
Now, Cowes resident Rosalind Murray, who owns the land on Egypt Esplanade up to the ‘Welcome to Gurnard sign’, has spoken of the damage done to her ground which adjoins that owned by Southern Gas Network (SGN).
Speaking of the devastation yesterday (Monday), Ms Murray said she has had it confirmed by SGN they went well over the boundary and the company is apologetic for what happened. The damage is already done however, she said, as they have vandalised her property and absolutely obliterated the site.
Ms Murray says she does not believe there is an issue with trespass, as had been claimed, because there was a public footpath running through her land, connecting the seafront to Battery Road. She says the land is for everyone and she liked people using it.
The land has been in Ms Murray’s family for 36 years and during that time she and her father have protected the site and the species that live on it, to prevent any building. She said no money in the world could compensate for what has happened and now the land is in more danger of a landslip.
The woodland has Tree Protection Orders and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.
SGN is believed to have consented to work on its land. The utility company has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight Council is investigating the works, with local councillor Paul Fuller confirming the work did not have permission. The council’s tree officer told Cllr Fuller that a SGN estate manager said the site was cleared due to trespassing and the need to make it safe.
Work has since stopped but speaking on Friday, Cllr Fuller said SGN should know the status of its land and permission was needed to do the work. He said this demonstrated how irresponsible it was and that he is fully behind any enforcement action the council may take.
SGN estate manager said the site was cleared due to trespassing and the need to make it safe.
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what utter drivel – were the trees trespassing – the individual that gave the go ahead for this needs to be named, prosecuted, sacked and then made to restore the site to its former state at his or her own expense.
this is environmental vandalism and wanton destruction of the environment.
An absolute disgrace by SGN. They should be immediately taken to task over this. Their lies in an attempted defence count for nothing.
For a start SGN owe more for just saying sorry. They should pay for each replant of every inch of that land. Why on earth did they think in the first place that they could do this. The idiots.
Typical of big business; think they can ride roughshod over people’s property.
Leaving aside for a moment the devastation to the trees and the damage to the neighbour’s land, why does SGN own woodlands in Gurnard anyway? For what reason would they have bought it? What other land do they own on the Island?
You actually wouldn’t have to think too hard about why they acquired the land and now, by a complete coincidence obviously, it’s being cleared of trees.
They have owned it for decades as that’s the point where gas used to come in to the island, hence the big yellow markers warning ships of their location.
I agree with previous comments. Although it will not be the same, it would seem absolutely reasonable to indeed replant some reasonably mature trees and shrubs, and make this a piece of land that the owner and the public using the footpath, can enjoy. I would even go as far as to say, make it even better as some form of compensation for the devastation caused.
… perhaps some decorative Willow living fencing around the landowners woodland would not only make the boundary clear but also be beneficial for wildlife to return. And a nice bench for the lady to rest. Done it alone for 36 years.
Just given them both barrels on the phone.More the merrier.
Better get some trees planted soon otherwise the area might look like the landslip on East Cowes Esplanade (!)