Neighbours row over 'chainsaw massacre'

A ROW has erupted between residents of an upmarket Sheffield estate over a plot of land they claim was a haven for wildlife until it was bulldozed by a developer.

The field in the Rivelin Valley was originally offered to residents free of charge by developers Gleeson after the firm converted the former King Edward's Hospital into the King Edward's estate.

But the offer was retracted for commercial reasons and the land bought by King Edward's resident Tom Lloyd.

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He has cleared the site and plans to build a luxury two-storey mansion on the land – much to the upset of his neighbours.

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Local resident Karen Vincent-Jones said: "This was once a pleasant area covered with small birch saplings and other local vegetation. It was home to foxes, badgers, pheasants, rabbits and other wildlife.

"It is now a wasteland covered with mounds of earth and rubble and the remains of trees."

Angry locals, who have dubbed the saga 'The Rivelin Chainsaw Massacre', say Mr Lloyd has felled a 200-year-old beech tree, churned up the field, removed drain covers, and failed to carry out any work on the site since October.

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Mr Lloyd told The Star he agreed the land was an "eyesore" but said he would be submitting a planning application for his new home to Sheffield Council shortly.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned there is no row. I've done nothing wrong. I bought the land and have started clearing it with a view to building my new home there."

His architect David Lewis said: "The house will be built from stone in a traditional design indigenous to the area, that will blend carefully and discreetly into its setting. It will be hidden from the road and the grounds will be landscaped with grass and trees. It will contribute very positively to the appearance, character, and quality of the overall location."

But Ms Vincent-Jones, who is furious about the state of the site, said she had been in touch with Sheffield Council urging it to take enforcement action against Mr Lloyd to compel him to clean up the field and produce a timetable for completion of the work.

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A council planning department spokeswoman said: "Mr Lloyd isn't actually doing anything wrong. He is clearing the site in order to develop it.

"Conditions of the planning permission were that the site should be reinstated to the way it was. That means the drain covers must eventually be put back in place.

"There was no preservation order on the tree so he is entitled to cut it down as long as he plants another one."

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