Residents up in arms after bulldozers cleared trees at ex-Black Country dump
Campaigners are up arms after developers cleared trees from a former Black Country landfill which is home to a rare butterfly.
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The former Rattlechain Tip off Temple Way in Tividale near Dudley is earmarked for housing development under Sandwell's local plan. But angry residents claim the owners sent in digging machines to cleared trees from the site next to the Birmingham Canal within consulting them.
Sandwell Council's website stated that land was privately-owned and clearance was done ahead of future site investigations.
Jennifer Woodhouse, aged 48, who lives in nearby Macdonald Close, said: "Five years ago I brought my forever home with a beautiful view of green land out my back windows with no one looking over me in my garden. January 13 I heard machinery out the bedroom window. I looked out to see diggers ripping all the trees out of the ground.
"I couldn't believe what I was seeing - I called Sandwell Council to find out what was going on and I was told they'd had a number of calls regarding this and they would email me a link to explain. This explained that residents would of had a leaflet posted explained what's happening - I'm still waiting for the leaflet - but they did say there has been no planning promotion granted has of yet.
