CAMPAIGNERS fighting to prevent housing on land bordering Tiddesley Wood nature reserve have been reduced to tears by an emotional letter from a town youngster.
Seven-year-old Joshua Harrison handed his plea to planning chiefs to campaigners at a special meeting organised for residents by Pershore Town Council earlier this month.
In his letter, young Joshua revealed his fears for the wildlife on the ancient woodland which could be affected by any development nearby.
“I have lived in and around Pershore my whole life and I walk my dog around Tiddesley Wood plenty of times,” he said.
“I’m worried about the deer. I’ve been on a walk and spotted about 15 deer and I want to make a change.
“Please stop what you are doing, it is not just harming the deer but the other animals such as badgers, rabbits, foxes, hedgehogs, butterflies, birds and bees not to mention slow worms too, because you are building the houses right where I have seen all these animals,” he added.
Despite numerous attempts being rejected by planners to build on the existing dwelling on Orchard Farm, Defford Road over the past 13 years, the site is now earmarked in the SWDP for a residential estate of 450 houses combined with neighbouring fields which run from Holloway along the top of existing developments in Three Springs Road down to Tiddesley Wood creating a total of 552 new homes for Pershore.
More than 120 people packed into Pershore Football Club earlier this month for a workshop exploring the new SWDP housing proposals for the town.
Campaigner Trudy Burge from the Protecting Pershore’s Woodland group said: “This letter absolutely reduced me to tears as it touched my heart.
“Of all the messages I have read over the past six weeks, I think this heartfelt letter says it all.
“Joshua and his generation are the ones we are fighting to preserve the ancient woodland for. I am 50 years old and have so many happy memories of this woodland.
“Being a rural small town, we have had the privilege to grow up observing the wildlife around us and Joshua’s generation deserve the same,” she added.
Residents can have their say on the proposed blueprint on future housing development across south Worcestershire. Visit www.swdevelopmentplan.org .
