NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock after trees were felled on the site of a rejected new homes scheme as they fear the controversial plan will rear its head again.
Residents in The Fairway, the former Tolladine Golf Course in Worcester, knew nothing about the plan to chop 10 trees down until they heard the chainsaws.
Some were concerned more homes will be built by Tustin Holdings because of the history of the site which lies in a residential area off Tolladine Road, once a former golf course.
However, no new plans have been submitted to the planning committee at Worcester City Council and developers have not spoken of any plans to submit a further application.
Though the move has opened up views of Worcester Cathedral and the Malvern Hills, residents fear it is a precursor to developers building new homes on the site.
It took a four-man team two days to chop down the trees on Thursday and Friday last week.
An application by Tustin Holdings for six new homes off The Fairway next to Worcester’s Tolladine Road was rejected by councillors in November 2022.
The developer then lodged an appeal with the government’s planning inspector but this was dismissed.
Andy Taylor, of Warndon Parish Council, made enquiries with Worcester City Council after he became aware 'some disquiet on social media' and 'the assumption there is going to be more houses built'.
He said: "At this stage all I have done is report it to Worcester City Council and seek to clarify whether any of the trees were covered by Tree Preservation Orders. I believe they used to cover the whole of the former golf course."
He has made enquiries to see whether this is still the case and whether, because it is designated green space, it is 'appropriate to be chopping down trees there'.
"I have asked the enforcement team to give me a speedy response to allay concerns. It's not a complaint. It's a query," said Mr Taylor.
One resident who declined to be identified said: "I asked the guy who was chopping them down about it. They don't give you a lot of information. He said they were potentially too close to houses and at risk of blowing down.
"It's opened up the view. It is a beautiful view but you never know what they have got planned.
"The trees were going to have to go for the road for the access for the six houses (the scheme rejected by planners). I don't want houses built here."
Another resident, looking at the felled trees, said: "It makes you feel uncertain of the future. He has not chopped down those trees for no reason. The only reason we have been given is that the trees were unsafe. If he's taken the trees down because they're unsafe, there's no problem."
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A woman living nearby said she did not want to see more homes built.
"I was shocked when they started chopping these trees down. We have not received anything - no letter, no consultation. We have no idea what is going on here," she said.
We have approached Tustin Developments for a comment.
A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: "We are unable to comment at this time."
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