In a decision that has stirred both surprise and dismay among local residents, Liberal Democrat ran Surrey Heath Borough Council has granted controversial permission to cut through the heart of a cherished woodland situated between Devonshire Drive and Larchwood Glade in Camberley.
Despite robust opposition from the community and the presence of a Woodland Tree Protection Order, this recent Council decision overrides previous refusals, including one from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Planning Inspector, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future of local wildlife and Camberley's distinct skyline.
Local environmentalists are concerned that once the woodland's heart is excised, it could pave the way for a new wave of planning applications - potentially the very developments previously denied.
This move raises questions about the balance between ownership rights and environmental stewardship, the effectiveness of protection orders, and the degree to which public authorities consider the voices of the communities they serve.
Councillor Trefor Hogg, Surrey County Councillor for Camberley East, took to social media to voice his concerns, sharing an impassioned message with the residents of Camberley:
"Today we can see more proof that Surrey Heath Borough Council's current administration don't give a fig about residents views.
"They have just decided, to allow a Dubai based landowner, permission to cut down the centre of a small woodland between Devonshire Drive and Larchwood Glade.
"That's despite Planning Permission being refused to do that, despite the DLUHC Planning Inspector specifically declining permission and despite a Woodland Tree Protection Order. Once the centre of the woodland is gone I'm sure we can also expect an application for the Planning Permission they were denied.
"Goodbye to the bats, the owl, the woodpeckers, the hedgehogs and goodbye to part of Camberley's skyline."
Pictured, the woodland between Devonshire Drive and Larchwood Glade
