Email and Write to Them!
Dec 4th, 2008 by David
Keep the pressure up on Chorley council. The following people have a direct responsibility for the key decisions that allowed Go Ape to be built.
UPDATE: Donna Hall has asked all correspondence to be addressed to her (see her comment below).
Donna Hall, Chief executive, Chorley Borough Council, Town hall, Market Street, Chorley. PR7 1DP. Email donna.hall@chorley.gov.uk
Keith Winstanley, Arboricultural Officer, Civic Offices, Union Street, Chorley. PR7 1AL. Email keith.winstanley@chorley.gov.uk
Jane Meek, Corporate Director (Business), Civic Offices, Union Street, Chorley. PR7 1AL. Email jane.meek@chorley.gov.uk
Here’s what Keith Winstanley said in a internal Chorley BC memo on 8th July, just before planning permission was granted:
For such an impressive layout I am pleased that it appears to have such a small arboricultural impact. The fixings for the equipment utilise a tried technique which allows freedom of movement and growth to the trees while offering protection to the wood.
The only trees marked for removal are the three under the zip line, numbered 755, 757 and 758. Of these 755 is in poor condition, with a large cavity in the trunk, 757 is dead, or very nearly so and 758 is small, supressed and leaning.
Due to this, I have no objections to the application.
In your email or letter, you might want to ask what Mr Winstanley’s judgement might have been if he’d known that 13 trees have been felled by Go Ape without planning permission or reference to United Utilities or Chorley. You might also want to point out that no more trees can be felled without planning permission.
Whilst I understand the strength of feeling on this planning application, your complaint against Chorley Council is now in the hands of The Ombudsman. I am therefore requesting that all correspondence on this issue is addressed to me rather than individual officers. Please do not single out individual officers for criticism. They have acted in accordance with the Council’s policies and procedures.
The Planning Application was based on the felling of 3 trees. Go Ape have felled a total of 21 trees. 3 were felled as part of the preparation of the course. 13 were felled because they were proven to be diseased and in a porr state of health and an additional 5 trees were felled without permission. Enforcement action was pursued by Chorley Council against GO APE who have agreed to replace the trees on a 3 for one basis. GO APE have agreed that they will ask us before any further trees are felled.
Thanks
Donna Hall
Chief Executive
Chorley Council
Hi Donna,
Just to correct you: I spoke to the United Utilities people in Lever park with direct responsibility for the trees. They insisted that 13 (not 5) trees had been felled by Go Ape without their permission. They admitted that they (United Utilities) had felled 8 (not 13) trees because they were diseased. United Utilities emailed me to confirm the numbers. You can read their email here:
http://www.leverpark.co.uk/2008/10/questions-and-answers-about-the-felled-trees/
I think United Utilities would argue that they were entitled to fell some trees as part of their woodland management role. Go Ape have no such defense and their offer to plant extra trees to replace those they felled is insulting. It will take 100 years for them to grow!
We suggest that Go Ape plant 500 trees, then wait 100 years for them to grow before opening their theme park. No? Then, please Go Ape, don’t patronise the people of Bolton and Chorley again!