Rugby council confirms destruction of remnants of Ashlawn Road hedgerow was in accordance with planning permission

David Wilson Homes ripped up the remnants of a stretch of hedgerow on Ashlawn Road yesterday, Wednesday February 26.

Residents took to the Rugby About Turn page on Facebook to express their outrage, with many decrying the damage they believe the loss of the trees and hedgerows will do to wildlife in the area.

A spokesperson for Rugby Borough Council told the Advertiser a planning officer visited the site yesterday and concluded the latest works were done in accordance with planning permission.

In 2019 David Wilson Homes sparked outrage when they grubbed up large sections of the hedgerow on Ashlawn Road as part of works to build an 860-home estate.

At the time, Rugby council ordered the developer to halt work - concluding that they ripped up more hedgerow than they had been allowed to.

David Wilson Homes issued a statement apologising and stating they would plant new hedgerows to mitigate the impact on wildlife.

And earlier this year the developer got permission to rip up the remainder of the hedgerows - although a 300-year-old oak tree was given an exemption following the efforts of residents and councillors.