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Please save our den, plead youngsters

25/ 6/2008

CHILDREN have issued a plea to ‘save our den’, which is part of a coppice under threat from planners.

Johnnie Johnson Housing Association wants to build a three-storey block of 20 apartments on a greenfield site between Lambgates and Valemount in Hadfield.

But objectors fear the coppice, where children climb trees and swing off ropes, will be destroyed.

Daniel and Melanie Stockley allow daughters Elloise and Rebekah to play there. "The girls enjoy playing in the den, while we enjoy peace of mind knowing they are within reasonably safe limits," said Mrs Stockley.

However, Sandra Rawlinson, who owns the site and lives in a bungalow which will have to be demolished, said the coppice was used for allotments when she moved in 20 years ago and claims trees were only planted in the mid-1990s.

"I would not allow my children to play in there," she said. "It’s far too close to a fast-flowing stream and is used by teenage drunks. It’s full of broken glass and beer cans. It would be no great loss if it was gone."

She added: "Affordable housing is needed for both the elderly and the young. Why is there all this silly fuss?"

James Bromfield, Johnnie Johnson development manager, said they have an option to buy the site for 10 flats for rent and 10 for shared ownership.

"There will be tree planting too and we will try to absorb it as green space within the scheme," he said.