Today clearance work was temporarily stopped today when Chairman of Friends of Speckled Wood stopped collecting objections in the village centre and rushed to Church Street. The public in the village had said Church street was being cleared. Mr Newbold Chairman of the chairman asked the Contractors who had employed them . They told him Mrs Terry of the Estates Department Hastings Borough Council had engaged them to clear this land. Mr Newbold was heard to state that the land was owned by HCA and that they should not be working on it. Mr Newbold was asked if he was anything to do with this . He was shown an OCLT compliment slip. Mr Newbold was heard to say no.
Negotiation was then seen to happen when Mrs Terry, Estates Department arrived at 2:00pm . She talked to Mr Newbold at length. An agreement was made to not cut the trees during this meeting. The workers departed around 2:15pm.
It is worrying to note that no public safety fencing was erected whilst these workers were working on site.
Chairman of FOSWMT has said people will be onsite tomorrow and that he has contacted HCA and learned that their bid of intention has not made it to HCA the land owners and that an Outline Planning Application will be submitted for this land in november 2013.
Another member of the Trust said the objections were going well for the Outline Planning in Victoria Ave and that their target was 500 and they are just short . Please keep the objections coming in there is less than four days left for this . It is clear there is another battle ahead
