Bringing Poor Woodland Back into Public Use
Halls Construction at Aycliffe, the new owners of Woodham Golf Course, have indicated an alternative to building houses alongside Middridge Road, currently awaiting planning permission.
We understand said they would prefer to provide housing in the adjacent wood, also in their ownership, which is a complete mess and inaccessible to the general public even though it should be providing a bridle path and walkways.
This amenity could be restored to provide a beautiful landscaped area with cul de sacs leading to executive housing. The area is completely overgrown with poor scraggy quality trees which are of no use to anyone. These could be thinned out without any loss to the appearance of the woodland and the remaining trees properly managed. This would open this wasteland into a lovely community amenity and tidy up what is an eyesore at the moment.
The problem is the wood has a tree conservation order which needs to be removed before Halls could apply to improve the area and provide houses to meet the expected demand as Newton Aycliffe expands.
Previous owners have failed in similar attempts to develop this woodland and one idea was to clear trees to include golf fairways from the wood. Halls want to improve all the land they own and the wood certainly needs attention to bring it back into community use.
The County Council ought to give consideration to this idea which will bring a much needed environmental improvement to this area.
