FEARS are growing that 'historic' trees on the site of Worcester's old Ronkswood Hospital will be cut down to make way for a business park development and bus lane.

Around a dozen poplar trees have lined Newtown Road for over half a century and have a preservation order on them but they look set to be chopped when construction work starts.

Ripon Road resident Jon Baddeley, whose home overlooks the site, is leading the campaign to preserve the trees, which were planted when the building was used as a military hospital during the war.

"The total destruction of trees is a travesty and makes us very, very angry," said Mr Baddeley.

"At the moment, it's the nearest you get to anything looking like countryside in the town centre.

"When the hospital was open we objected when they wanted to cut the trees down and we won, and we are going to object strongly again."

A planning application was submitted by developers Robert Hitchens to turn the former hospital site into a business park.

Yvonne Griffiths, of Warndon Parish Council, which was asked its opinions on the development, said it would be sad to see the trees go.

"They have quite an historic significance," she said. "The trees were planted by Canadians during the war because the site was being used by Canadians as a war-time hospital.

"They say the trees are over-mature but what is the life-span of a poplar tree?"

The campaigners have won support in their battle to save the trees by a city council officer who says he has 'strong objections' to their destruction.

Assistant planning officer James Dunn opposes the application on the grounds that the trees should be saved.

"We would only have protected them if they were worthy of retention," he said.

Occupied by Ronkswood Hospital for more than 50 years, the 19-acre site was vacated in 2002 and the buildings demolished.

The matter will come before Worcester city planners on Thursday, May 19.

FEARS are growing that 'historic' trees on the site of Worcester's old Ronkswood Hospital will be cut down to make way for a business park development and bus lane.

Around a dozen poplar trees have lined Newtown Road for over half a century and have a preservation order on them but they look set to be chopped when construction work starts.

Ripon Road resident Jon Baddeley, whose home overlooks the site, is leading the campaign to preserve the trees, which were planted when the building was used as a military hospital during the war.

"The total destruction of trees is a travesty and makes us very, very angry," said Mr Baddeley.

"At the moment, it's the nearest you get to anything looking like countryside in the town centre.

"When the hospital was open we objected when they wanted to cut the trees down and we won, and we are going to object strongly again."

A planning application was submitted by developers Robert Hitchens to turn the former hospital site into a business park.

Yvonne Griffiths, of Warndon Parish Council, which was asked its opinions on the development, said it would be sad to see the trees go.

"They have quite an historic significance," she said. "The trees were planted by Canadians during the war because the site was being used by Canadians as a war-time hospital.

"They say the trees are over-mature but what is the life-span of a poplar tree?"

The campaigners have won support in their battle to save the trees by a city council officer who says he has 'strong objections' to their destruction.

Assistant planning officer James Dunn opposes the application on the grounds that the trees should be saved.

"We would only have protected them if they were worthy of retention," he said.

Occupied by Ronkswood Hospital for more than 50 years, the 19-acre site was vacated in 2002 and the buildings demolished.

The matter will come before Worcester city planners on Thursday, May 19.

Missed the Race for Life? Then

try fun run

ORGANISERS of Warndon Villages' fun run next month are hoping to attract participants who missed out on a place in Worcester's Race For Life.

Places in the 5,000-strong 5km run through the city on Sunday, June 12, filled up in record time, meaning an estimated £280,000 will be raised for Cancer Research UK.

"The women's Race For Life is full so people who couldn't take part can join in our fun run a week before," said Andrew Philpott, the chairman of Warndon Parish Council.

Entry forms for the run, which will raise money for the Noah's Ark Trust and The Bridge Counselling Service, are available from the Lyppard Grange Community Centre in Ankerage Green, Warndon Villages.

Participants can choose to run or walk the 5km, 10km or 15km route, which begins at 2pm on Sunday, June 5.

A free short race comprising laps around the car park for under 7s will also take place.

Extra cars

concern for

emergency

vehicles

HOMEOWNERS who make garage conversions are being warned that extra cars parked on streets could cause an obstruction for emergency vehicles.

Members of Warndon Parish Council discussed whether they should object to such home alterations as a matter of course.

Just this month, the council was asked for observations on applications for two garage conversions in Warndon Villages, at 22 Powderham Avenue and 15 Launceston Place.

Parish councillors also fear parked cars could become obstructions when wheelie bins are introduced because they need to be left out on the pavement.

"We need to be clear in our own minds about whether we want garage conversions," said parish council member Ray Morris.

"I feel strongly that they lead to more cars being parked on roads and when we have wheelie bins it'll be almost impossible."

Council member in charge of planning David Eastwood said there was a safety issue.

"Some day there will be a fire and they won't be able to get a fire engine down there," he said.

"However we've raised objections to 50 or 60 of these and only had about two or three successes."

But fellow parish councillor Sarah Richards issued a note of caution: "We could be deemed as being far too prejudiced if we don't judge each planning application on its own merits."

Stick to it

LITTER could become a thing of the past in Warndon Villages - if people are prepared to clear it away themselves.

The parish council has bought 20 litter-picking sticks which it wants residents to use.

Anybody interested should call council clerk Les Bishop on 01905 754494.