DOG walkers in Droitwich have expressed concerns over the potential loss of established hedgerows around the edge of the proposed Yew Tree Hill development to the south of the town.

A number of dog walkers have contacted the Advertiser as a result of a campaign, which was set up by an anonymous resident to gauge public opinion on the potential removal of the hedgerows and footpaths next to Pulley Lane Woods and Rebekah Gardens open space.

Resident Tim McCarthy said: “I’m concerned about what’s going to happen up there. I walk my dog there regularly, it’s a nice walk with beautiful views across the whole of Worcestershire and we’re going to be really upset if they get rid of it. There’s a few big old trees and hedgerows. Are they going to keep any of that? It’s a concern, really.”

Another concerned resident added: “The hedgerows and trees have taken many years to get established, they should be preserved at all costs. They will help with noise pollution acting as a natural barrier. The developers should be forced to retain all of them.”

Fred Spencer is losing his property to the development, but he doesn’t think people are looking at the big picture.

He said: “I’ve lived up here since 1956, and I’m not absolutely happy about the building going up, but these people are so short sighted. There’s miles and miles of public footpaths round here. They might have to move them, but they can’t take them away it’s illegal.

“I totally understand where people are coming from, it’s a shame but you just have to look at the bigger picture.”

Lynn Rutter has a property bordering the new development. She said: “It’s a shame. I use it, I’ve been here since 1981, and had dogs all the time, so I do use it. People have taken it upon themselves to use it, and it’s a lovely walk but I don’t think it’s actually a right of way.”

With the developers gaining outline planning permission the details of where construction will take place and exactly which trees and hedgerows will be removed are yet to be decided.

Martyn Cartwright, director of Barberry Developments, which is behind the Yew Tree Hill development, said: “This issue was fully examined at the planning appeal.

“We are retaining the majority of hedgerows and mitigating against any loss such that there is a net gain in landscaping terms across the site. This has, of course, been fully endorsed by the planning inspector and the Secretary of State.

The Inspector’s report claimed that the plans offer substantial environmental advantages including a net positive gain of 1,385 metres of hedgerows, and a net positive gain of 1,598 sq metres of field margins.

Rhod Drury from the Save Yew Tree Hill campaign, said: “There’s no doubt the public didn’t want the development to go through, but we’ve lost that battle.

“The developers put forward in their outline plans that if they did have to reduce hedges and trees they’d look to replant those but that detail wasn’t finalised.

“If it does anything it might keep some pressure on WDC to make sure the planners carry out the conditions the inspector said should be done."