Trees chopped down to make way for road

From the archive, first published Friday 7th Jun 2002.

Nurse Debbie Evans is furious that her employers have chopped down trees screening her Oxford home from a hospital car park.

Mrs Evans, 45, an anaesthetist at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, said she and her neighbours in Windmill Road, Headington, watched in horror as workmen cut down 20 birch and beech trees opposite their homes on Thursday morning (June 6).

The hospital, which provides bone treatment, is undergoing a £35m redevelopment.

Mrs Evans, her husband Richard, and their two children, Adam, 18, and Ellie, 15, have lived in Windmill Road for 21 years, and the trees were there when she moved in.

She claimed residents were not properly consulted about the removal of the trees.

Mrs Evans said: "I phoned the hospital to complain and was told this was necessary because the route of an internal road had been altered.

"The improvements to the hospital will mean better services, but the management must try to protect the environment, and listen to the concerns of the local residents."

Jean Wright, site development project manager for the NOC NHS Trust, said: "There has been extensive discussion with city council planning officers, and the trees that came down were all agreed as part of the planning process. When we get to the end of the project there will be extensive replanting.

"Residents will have been consulted as part of the planning process with the council."

He added that members of the public could call 01865 227567 for an up-to-date report on the situation.

Residents who have further queries about the redevelopment can also telephone 01865 227802.