IF anyone has walked down the stretch of land between the A141 and the Birds estate at Hartford recently, they would be in for a surprise. It would seem that the district council has commissioned a company to clear up the area. This work has now stopped f

IF anyone has walked down the stretch of land between the A141 and the Birds estate at Hartford recently, they would be in for a surprise. It would seem that the district council has commissioned a company to clear up the area. This work has now stopped for the time being after complaints from the public.

I rate this work as an act of vandalism. They have not taken into consideration any of the wildlife that live in these copses, and it was my understanding that the bushes and trees were in place a part of a planning design when this estate was built, to deaden some of the road noise from the A141, and the visual impact for the houses that back onto the A141.

This is no longer the case. If it had been a case of clearing up the area, repairing existing fences, great, but none of that has been done. It is just the total destruction of wildlife habitats and erosion of the planning considerations of these areas.

There are numerous species of birds and other animals that live in these areas and a lot of their habitat has now been destroyed, through the inappropriate actions of the district council.

I am surprised that the local councils can be seen to sanction this, especially with a by-election in the near future. I agree with Alan Reader (Letters, March 11): if the council tidied up theses areas that fall within there remit, people would have more pride in the town and the area we all live in.

DAVE DRANSFIELD

Goshawk Close

Hartford