Why were trees in Castle Park felled?

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Aug 2008

Castle Park scene without trees

Trees and shrubs which formed a natural screen in the award-winning Colchester Castle Park have been felled - and now the Town's MP, Bob Russell, is demanding to know why.

The removal of the trees and shrubs has provided a clear view into the Castle Park for new dwellings which have been built close to the edge of Holly Trees Meadow and the children's play area in the Upper Park.

Mr Russell - who is renowned for his tree planting campaigns - told the Essex County Standard: "It looks very much to me that the natural screen has been removed in order to enhance the developer's prospects of selling his new dwellings, but this has resulted in a huge visual destruction for those of us for whom the Castle Park is Colchester's crowning glory."

He added: "The big question is this: who removed the trees and shrubs? That is what I have asked the Council."

Mr Russell said that in addition to seeking an explanation he would be requesting that a replacement screen of trees and shrubs were planted, "although it will take years to get things back to what they used to be."

The new housing has taken place on land which once formed part of the Central Health Clinic. In addition to the new dwellings, developers Knights have also converted the former office block and added an additional floor.

Liberal Democrat Mr Russell said: "A local resident contacted me a few days' ago to tell me of what happened, and when I visited the scene I saw for myself the visual disaster.

"It is an outrage that the Council allowed the new houses to be built so close to the boundary of the Castle Park, and to permit an additional floor to be built on top of an office block which was already a blot on the skyline next to the Castle Park provides further evidence that the former Council's love affair with flats was a planning disaster."