BARRACKS Lodge Community Association exists to protect and enhance the amenity and environment of the area which focuses on Barracks Lodge and the adjacent open space - our "village green" as we see it.

On September 15 tree surgeons visited an empty property on Haig Road and removed mature trees. To get access they entered Barracks playing fields via a padlocked gate and drove across the fields. They then proceeded to cut down several cherry trees, one with a girth of 51 inches, on council-owned land, before removing the trees on private land. The removal of the cherry trees has left an unattractive break in what was a continuous belt of trees. The trees had formed a welcome screen between the green fields and the housing. The ground was left with branches and twigs scattered around. We would like to ask Bury MBC Competitive Services whether or not the tree surgeons had permission to enter public land and remove public trees. Readers will be aware that this area lost quite enough trees when those at Barracks Lodge were removed.

Who gave the tree surgeons a key to the council padlock? If permission was given by council officers, I am sure local councillors will want to know why. If permission was not given then what action is the council going to take both to secure the site and to punish those responsible? It seems that there is no end to the number of companies wishing to cross council playing fields to carry out environmental damage.

Locally rumours are rife that a certain development company has acquired a property on Haig Road with a view to redeveloping the site.

MICHAEL WELLOCK

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.