Proposals to fell two protected yew trees on the grounds of a property developer’s £1.4 million residence have ignited outrage among local residents.
Peter Sykes intends to remove the two 30-foot-tall trees to create space for a new structure and parking bays at the front of his Winchester, Hampshire home.
Nevertheless, Sykes faces strong opposition from neighbors who argue it would be a ‘travesty of justice’ to cut down the trees, which are reportedly over 60 years old and in good health.
These yew trees are safeguarded by a tree preservation order, with previous council planning committees mandating their conservation.
Last year, Sykes stirred controversy when he secured approval to construct an additional house on his property, on the condition that the trees remain untouched.
Now, he is contesting Winchester City Council’s ruling regarding the trees, with a planning committee set to review the matter on April 15.
The application has upset neighbours who say he should sell the property as he has turned it to ‘rack and ruin’.
Neighbours say that Mr Sykes, who lives in Andover, always ‘takes the cheapest option’.
Peter Sykes is looking to chop down the two 30-foot-high trees to make space for a new building and parking bays at the front of his home. Pictured: The house and trees in Winchester
The property developer has been hit with criticism from his neighbours who say ‘travesty of justice’ if the trees were to be removed as they are ‘over 60 years old and in good condition’. Pictured: The house and trees in Winchester
The house has been owned by his family since the 1960s and neighbours now want him to sell it so someone can restore the plot.
He has had several tenants and recently it is believed that Polish contractors have been living there while they undertake maintenance work.
The neighbours have accused him of ‘manipulating’ the planning process on the property, which no one has lived in permanently for five years.
It is believed that Mr Sykes still has a desire to live in the four-bedroom property, despite never having done so in the past.
The £1.44million home is in the St Cross district of the cathedral city, which was one of the first conservation areas in the country.
Fifteen neighbours have put in objections to the plans and the way that it would affect the ‘quaint’ and ‘quirky’ area.
They have also raised concerns about parking on the narrow street if more work is undertaken, as they say there is not enough space to have lorries turning on the road.
Peter Moir, 78, who has lived opposite the house with his wife since 1992, said: ‘They are already taking some trees down and the developers want to take more down.
‘People in the street are just upset about the number of trees coming down and the way it will affect the street.
‘It is quite a nice street scene, but we don’t know him at all.
‘We have an extremely poor relationship and I know that he has problems with other neighbours here.
‘There is a tree protection order on those trees but there is an already an amount of damage to those trees.
‘It will massively impact how the street looks. It is a pretty Victorian area with a lot of old walls in front of the houses.
‘I am not at all confident that we will win our argument.’
Peter Moir, 78, (left) who has lived opposite the house with his wife since 1992, and Nick Page, 69, (right) who has lived next door with his wife since 1994, have both heavily objected to the plans
He added that the proposals are ‘totally impractical’ and that Mr Skyes ‘will continue to try and manipulate the planning process’
‘This is a manipulation as much as they can try and dress it up,’ he said.
‘It would be a travesty of justice if these trees were to be removed.’
Industry manager Liam Kilpatrick, 55, who has lived next door since 2002,said: ‘I think it is more about the principal that they are protected and therefore it should not be honoured.
‘I think what is more concerning is that the owner of the property was given permission to put the house in the garden with the condition that these trees remained so doing this really is not acceptable.
‘He doesn’t live there and it feels as though he has put in zero effort to engage with the community who live in the street.
‘He has never come round to try and get support from people. He treats us with a total disrespect.
‘If the meeting is anything like the first one then our points that were put forward did not seem to be listened to by the councillors.
‘They didn’t take into consideration the social impact it will have on everyone.
‘He has had multiple tenants but it appears that he has run it into the ground. It is rather sad really.’
Retired lawyer Nick Page, 69, who has lived next door with his wife since 1994, said: ‘This whole area is a conservation area and the trees are 60 years old.
‘The reason he has been trying to cut them down is so he can build a house that is too big for their plot. They need to built something of a sensible size.
‘People like this are going to destroy the conservation area.
‘He has always said that he wants to move back in but he has always been a landlord.
‘He just tends to avoid me.
‘He has let the house fall into rack and ruin. He just goes for the cheapest option every time.
‘It has been difficult for all of us. It has been five years of renovation work next door. That is a significant amount of time.
‘We just wish he sold the property. It is just an eyesore.
‘Everyone gets on perfectly well except for him.’
Mr Sykes has been approached for comment.
