For an update, please scroll to the bottom:

This petition concerns the underhand practices, and the resulting aesthetic damage to the village of Coleshill, by Rosary Estates and asks you to sign up in order to

a) support the Tree Preservation Order TPO/2025/0001

b) object to the illegal fencing

c) object to the illegal gate and entrance to the road

There will inevitably be some planning issues where your responses could be useful during any objections. The petition also allows some level of publicity about what’s happening

Here’s the story:

There is a way to proceed with any development that impacts people and the area they live in or use. However, for the selfish there is always an opportunity to just do it and ignore the usual procedures and permissions. Don’t want that tree? Just chop it down, what’s the worst that can happen? You’ll never have to plant a similar sized tree, so get rid of it, don’t worry about any comeback or anyone else …. this is one of those things.

Coleshill is a small village in the Chilterns between Amersham and Beaconsfield. It’s in an AONB, attracts a lot of walkers, has a nice pub, a village pond, a windmill – all that sort of stuff. Along the road that runs though it, a smallish area of woodland sits between two period houses with a frontage of about 80m. It’s a bit wild and run down.

It looks like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least it used to look like that until Santa arrived in the form of some 'tree surgeons' just before Xmas, a masterpiece of timing. Now it looks like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nice eh? Like the fence? It’s almost as if it’s been there a 100 years, barely noticeable. What’s better is that they have now enclosed the entire area with this 6’ monstrosity. Here it is

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, the first folks to arrive were ‘tree surgeons’ called Bartlett Tree Experts who began sawing and felling. Initial enquiries were fobbed off with some blather about diseased, rotting, dangerous trees, forestry commission, replanting etc. Naturally concerned residents leapt onto the internet and discovered that there was in fact a felling order that allowed felling of 6o trees. However, as you can see absolutely everything has been removed. They are busily removing all the stumps now so no one can prove how many trees were cut down.

Bartletts were shortly followed by the fence types who began building their fort and a new gate. There is no planning permission for this – you need to apply for permission to put a 6’ fence where previously it was 3’ and also you need permission for a new entry to the road.

You see, just do it. Don’t worry about it. The felling permit also demanded replanting, so we might take comfort from the fact that the area contained by the might 6’ fence might soon be littered with tiny plastic tubes, and one day, in a bout 40 years time, there will be trees again.

Then there’s the wildlife who have been given as much consideration as the residents.

This piece of land was bought a few years back by a company called Rosary Estates Ltd which has one shareholder, John Roddison who appears to be a chartered accountant based in Sheffield.

It’s also worth noting that at no time was there any communication with the village, no apologies for the incessant noise, vehicles parked carelessly, no coning off of the working areas. A complete shambles, driven through as quickly as possible.

This week the council put a temporary Tree Preservation Order on the entire woodland. We hope this becomes permanent but whilst it will do nothing to repair the damage, hopefully it will prevent Rosary Estates inflicting further harm.

Whilst signing the petition, if you feel able to write a short email to the council to express your support for the TPO, you can email planning.csb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk quoting ref: TPO/2025/0001

Thank you

 

Update dated 24 November 2025

So, nearly an entire year has passed where we have endured the ugly sight of our horrible 6' fence and the wasteland behind it. However, the council planners have now reached a decision. The developer Rosary Estates had been told that the fencing and the new access required planning permission and they needed to apply restrospetively. The developer did a shoddy job of the application, most annoyingly claiming that it was just a patch of waste ground (which it wasn't before they arrived). Anyway, they have been refused. This is great news but even better they have also been issued with an enforcement notice to put it back as it was!!

Of course, we can't expect them to rush to comply and they may appeal, but for now, it is good to know that your collective signatures have made a serious contribution, so many, many thanks to you all!