Developers could be given permission to rip up more of the hedgerow and fell an oak tree on Ashlawn Road

Earlier this year a developer sparked fury among residents when they grubbed up large sections of the hedgerow on Ashlawn Road - and now they could be given permission to remove more of it.

Cllr Carie-Anne Dumbleton (Lib-Dem, Rokeby and Overslade) said: “This May the developers took two long strips of the hedgerow without permission.

"Now Rugby’s planners are recommending that they can take the rest of the hedgerow including a fine oak tree.

"Elsewhere on the site they are recommending that the developers run a road so close to the pond that it is likely to stop the toads from breeding there”.

The Warwickshire Landscape Guidelines state that in our area hedges should be planted with oak trees.

And when giving outline planning consent for the Ashlawn Road scheme the Secretary of State said that the pond should have an eight-metre buffer zone.

Cllr Dumbleton added: “When the developers first applied for planning permission they said they would only need to take a hundred yards of hedgerow – now they want to take the lot.

“Rugby’s planning guidelines say that new hedgerows should have oaks in them - but rather than insist on that Rugby’s planners are recommending that the prime remaining oak tree in the hedgerow should be felled."

The developer’s planning application will be considered by Rugby’s planning committee on Wednesday, December 4.