Fury as 'decades-old hedge' set to be removed in Earswick

Earswick Parish Council is planning to dig up the hedge in the village, claiming the footpath next to it needs to be widened for safety reasons.

But one resident said she was baffled by the plan - and now City of York Council has asked for the proposal to be paused in order to find resolution.

Gill Bradley’s house in Strensall Road, Earswick, has a boundary next to the hawthorn hedge. She received a hand-posted letter from Earswick Parish Council dated July 22 which outlined its intentions following several complaints.

The letter claimed the narrowness of the path next to the hedge "has resulted in at least one person actually being hit by a wing mirror of a passing vehicle, together with several near misses where cars have travelled too close to pedestrians on the footpath".

Earswick Parish Council said it had received several complaints about the narrowness of the footpath (Image: Supplied)

It also says the parish council "has obtained a quote for the removal of the hedge" which includes "reinstating the pavement where there is currently soil - this will make the path wider and safer".

Earswick Parish Council has not yet responded to a request for comment from The Press.

In 2008, there were claims the same hedge was concerning villagers and at the time City of York Council said it would trim the hedge back but highlighted ownership concerns.

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The hedge is not listed on the deeds to Gill’s house, she said.

Gill said: “We’ve lived in the property since 2018, and the hedge used to be cut back all the time.

“There are nesting robins, blackbirds and hedge sparrows who rely on the hedge and it’s a fantastic pollinator when it’s in bloom.

“Pulling the hedge down, which is also retaining, baffles me.

“I don’t know where the parish council are going with it, and I’ve asked for a detailed discussion and have also contacted City of York Council’s planning department.”

Strensall Ward Liberal Democrat councillors Tony Fisher and Paul Healey disagreed with the parish council’s plans and have been collecting signatures for a petition in the village opposing the hedge removal.

Cllr Fisher said he had been collecting signatures in Earswick opposing the intention of the parish council (Image: Kevin Glenton)

Cllr Fisher said: “I am unhappy with the removal of this hedge, as it provides an attractive screen to the housing behind and provides foraging and shelter for birds and insects.

“Removal conflicts with City of York’s pollinator policy.

“I think that cutting it back could achieve the objective of widening the footpath.

“A number of residents have contacted me to protest and there has been opposition on social media."

James Gilchrist, director of transport, environment and planning at City of York Council, said: “We’re aware that the parish council would like to remove the hedge and widen the footway for the reasons they’ve outlined, and we’re also aware of the concerns raised by residents around these proposed plans.

“Hedgerows are an important part of our ecosystem, providing habitats for birds and wildlife, predators of pests and pollinators, as well as provide shade and cooling.

“They are an important part of our commitments to nature recovery, and as outlined in our pollinator strategy, we remain committed to considering the needs of pollinators across the city, and providing locals with the opportunities to make York more pollinator friendly.

“We will be asking the parish council to pause their plans and engage with us to reach an agreement on the future of the hedge.

"We hope that by working together with the parish council we’ll be able to identify a solution that balances the needs for safety with the concerns that have been raised, and the need to support our local ecosystem.”