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 LOCAL
residents who feared that this magnificent horse chestnut tree was in
danger of being felled following a planning application to build homes on
the site of the old JobCentre in Wellington Road, Nantwich, can rest
assured.
One of the conditions applied to any approval of the application to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council's development control panel is that the
tree must be preserved. In any case, the tree is described as
"protected" in the planning application details.
I understand that the Development Control Committee, meeting on August 23,
approved the application with conditions.
Foregate Developments (Nantwich) Ltd applied to build a three-storey
apartment block containing nine two-bedroom flats. (See
update).
The development is
supported by Nantwich Civic Society - surely another reason for the nearby
residents not to worry about the tree. The society said underground
parking allowed the surroundings to be landscaped and made allowances for
the trees. Part of the society's work is to look at plans submitted to the
council and make comments on them.
Nantwich Town Council had no objections.
At least one Nantwich boy has fallen from the tree in search of the best
conkers, although he may not have had so far to fall in those days at it was a
number of decades ago.
I am no expert, but there does not seem to me to be a lot of space between
the tree and the present houses in Station View (off Wellington Road).
But obviously Foregate know what they are doing. The smaller picture above
is of the JobCentre site taken from Station View.
The site is next to Nantwich railway station (left) - it is the level
crossing, closed to traffic, that is causing the queue in the main picture.
People often wonder how it is possible to live so near to a railway line
and get any peace by day or sleep at night, but I am assured by a former
resident of Station View that after a while you do not notice the passing
trains. I suppose it is the same as for people who live next to St Mary's
parish church with the clock chiming every quarter of an hour and the
bells ringing out on Sundays and practice nights.
A friend of mine bought a house right next to the church at a time when the
bells were silenced during repairs to the tower. The deal was signed,
sealed and delivered by
the time the bellringers resumed their peals. But the friend is now quite happy
where she lives.
lThe
Jobcentre
Plus is now in Swine Market, Nantwich.
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