Trees ripped out at Swaffham – claim
ENFORCEMENT officers are investigating claims that trees protected by a preservation order have been pulled down as part of a new care home development in Swaffham.
The investigation relates to a site on Jack Boddy Way which received planning permission in March for a 74-bedroomed care home on the town's EcoTech Business Park.
When permission was approved by Breckland Council's development control committee a preservation order was issued to protect trees on the site.
But last week, Mrs Viv McBride, who works at the neighbouring Organic Food Federation, saw a JCB driver remove around 15 trees which she believes are protected by the order.
She told the Lynn News: "He was dragging over and moving the top soil around, but then he started going round the edges where there are some quite large trees.
"They were well-developed trees and this should not be happening at somewhere like the EcoTech site."
A spokesman for Breckland Council said the matter is now under investigation by enforcement officers.
The Lynn News has been unable to trace applicants the Swaffham Partnership for a comment.
When plans were approved, a report to development control committee members said the design of the mainly two-storey home, set around a courtyard, would reflect aspects of the EcoTech Centre and nearby Plowright Health Centre.
The facility is also expected to create positions for care staff, cooks, cleaners, administration staff, managers and handymen or women, with most of the recruitment taking place in the Swaffham area.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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