A COUPLE who have lived at a home in Hooton for 35 years have said they feel "exposed" after a developer removed dozens of trees from outside their property.

Around three weeks ago, one Friday afternoon, Rose and Peter Hughes, residents of Hooton Road, next to the A41, saw workers outside their home and asked what was going on.

A man told Peter they would be chopping all of the trees down the following Monday morning, which Rose and Peter say they were never told about.

The work, by Stewart Milne Homes, is part of the 'Palladian Gardens Development' planning application, to improve the Hooton crossroads and build apartments, however, Rose explained that she believed some of the trees were subject to Tree Preservation Orders and therefore should never have been removed.

Wirral Globe: The trees gave residents privacy before they were cut downThe trees gave residents privacy before they were cut down (Image: Rose Hughes)

She said: "Stewart Milne sent these men to cut down the trees and a few of them have TPOs on them. They think because they own the land now they can just chop trees down but they have preservation orders on them.

"They also said they had to do it then because of the nesting period. If they would've left it any later they wouldn't have been able to."

Rose continued to explain how the removal of the tress has affected her and other residents in the area.

"We feel so exposed", Rose added.

"We had a van drive in this morning to pick up chippings. A family came at the weekend with a chainsaw to cut the logs."

Wirral Globe: The site currentlyThe site currently (Image: Chloe Nightingale)

Peter said: "We're worried there is no privacy, no fencing going to be put there and it's going to be left in a mess.

"Our neighbour is 85 and she is terrified. She sees people pulling up all of the time. It's just like we're living in an absolute nightmare. The pavement and everything has been left in a shambles."

Comment from Stewart Milne...

A spokesperson from Stewart Milne Homes said: "Permission for these works was granted by Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of planning permission for the Stewart Milne Homes Palladian Gardens development, planning application number: 17/02741/FUL (7 November 2018).

"This includes a requirement to deliver improvements to the existing Hooton Crossroads Junction.

"The loss of trees required to implement these works was given consideration by the Council with the conclusion that the ‘impact of the development on the trees and wider amenity should be balanced against the need and justification for the road improvements and the development of the Rofton Works site as a whole’.

"Stewart Milne Homes are currently in discussion with National Highways to commence the highway improvements and so in anticipation have removed trees that were approved for removal on land owned by Stewart Milne Homes.

"New trees will be planted behind the new highway line, to help mitigate the loss, when roadworks are complete."

Ongoing discussions...

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "The Council is aware of a number of trees, including some which are subject to Tree Preservation Orders, that have been felled in the vicinity of the junction of Hooton Road and the A41.

"Officers at the Council are in ongoing discussion with Stewart Milne Homes and National Highways on this matter."