A planning application has been submitted to Kettering Borough Council by Buccleuch Property Ltd which proposes the destruction of part of Weekley Hall Wood and wildflower meadow to the north of Kettering for the speculative development of warehouses.
Please visit www.SaveWeekleyHallWood.com for more information.
If approved, development will result in the loss of 4ha (40 000sq m) of young plantation woodland, a sizeable wildflower meadow, and several walking, running and cycling routes. This site is important from a human perspective as it provides easy access to a woodland and grassland site that borders the town. It is essential for residents' mental and physical wellbeing, and the loss of this community asset will have a grave impact on local access to wildlife and the outdoors.
This planning application is particularly galling as I, along with a colleague, hosted a community tree planting event in March at Wicksteed Park through Kettering Eco Group – an extraordinarily popular event at which we planted 420 trees. It served to highlight people’s interest in protecting and reforesting local community spaces.
I have significant concerns about the scale of species loss due to deforestation and eradication of grassland habitat that will occur if the planning application is approved by KBC.
Since the plans came to light in March the Save Weekley Hall Wood campaign team has formed and had success in raising the profile of the threat to the woodland and wildflower meadow.
We have had two articles published by the Northants Telegraph:
7th April: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/fury-woods-earmarked-chop-make-way-kettering-warehouse-park-2529080
14th May: https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/thousands-say-no-kettering-warehouse-development-which-will-destroy-woods-2851485
Campaign team member Dez Dell was interviewed on BBC Radio Northampton on 5th May: https://youtu.be/MqpI1bFIu2A
The campaign has been featured in Logistics Manager magazine: https://www.logisticsmanager.com/thousands-say-no-to-east-midlands-warehouse-development/
Recently, Kettering councillor, Ash Davies, has quit his role on the planning committee to oppose development of the wood and meadow:https://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/kettering-councillor-quits-committee-role-oppose-controversial-warehouse-development-3056327
I sincerely hope that you can add your voice to the chorus for the benefit of local wildlife and general public alike. Thank you so much for any support you can offer, and I hope you are all keeping well in these challenging times.
#SaveWeekleyHallWood
