FURIOUS Pershore residents took to the streets to voice their opposition to proposals to build 300 houses on land which shares a large border with the ancient Tiddesley Wood.
Nearly 200 angry protestors gathered in Pershore High Street against the plans being developed by housebuilder Hollybrook on the land at Orchard Farm.
Hollybrook had put on a public exhibition of their plans in the Bank House on High Street ahead of a planning application being submitted.
While the exhibition attracted a number of visitors, it was overshadowed when the street outside was filled with people to voice their anger at plans to build near the 6000-year-old wood, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest of national importance.
The protest was organised by the Protect Tiddesley Wood Facebook group which has more than 1,500 active members of long-standing opponents of any building near the wood.
A spokesperson said: “Will these developers ever learn? Tiddesley Wood is sacred to Pershore people – it means so much to so many who take solace from its beauty.
“We will fight any plans to build near it with every breath in our bodies and are most disappointed with this ‘public’ consultation.
Town councillor Val Wood echoed the views and said: “Back in November 2019, thousand of objections were submitted to the South Worcestershire Development plan followed swiftly by an e-petition of 2,765 signatures requesting that Wychavon District Council removed the site from the Preferred Options Plan.
“Our MP Harriett Baldwin even raised the issue of protecting the woodland in the House of Commons in February 2020.
“Thankfully we won that battle and it was removed from the local plan in September 2022.
District Coun Charles Tucker said: “Building houses near to Tiddesley Wood would have a disastrous effect on its ecology – by concreting over the feeding and nesting areas of birds, insects, bats and mammals and by dramatically increasing human and pet intrusion around the wood.
“Noise, pollution and street lights would all play their part in disrupting wildlife as well.
County Coun Dan Boatright said : “This is a ridiculous proposal which does nothing to help the already overloaded roads in Pershore.
“As usual, the developer has focused on building their houses, not the serious issue of road safety.
“Accidents have happened in the past and will happen more frequently with an increase in vehicle manoeuvres – not to mention the severe flooding that happens along that road and all across the fields below that have caused properties to flood in Defford Road.”
Visit www.orchardfarmpershore.co.uk by July 5 to register your view or pick up a consultation form from the Town Hall or Dilly Dally in Broad Street.
