A STATUESQUE copper beech at the entrance to a site sold for housing at Queen’s Hill in Newport is no more.

The tree, which is thought to have been about 150ft high, was felled to make way for an access road into a new a housing scheme on the site, which will also end in the demolition of part of a large vacant house nearby.

An Argus reader sent in pictures after the tree was cut down.

The tree before it was felled

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A local businessman, who also witnessed the tree being felled, said: “It was absolutely heart breaking to see the loggers methodically hacking this majestic tree to pieces with their chainsaws and then feeding the branches into a chipping machine.

“Nothing stands in the way of progress and in the scheme of things, and in the midst of our current troubles with Covid-19, I don’t suppose this act of vandalism is very high in people’s list of important things, which is a great pity.”

In December 2019 plans for 85 homes on the site were lodged with the city council.

Outline planning permission for up to 96 homes on the former site of Newport High School in Queen’s Hill was granted in 2018.

But the 2019 reserved matters application, which sets out details such as the design of the homes and the layout of the development, was then submitted by Bellway Homes for consideration.

The development proposes 85 homes – made up of 22 three-bedroom houses, 49 four-bedroom houses, six one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom flats and four two-bedroom houses.

Fourteen affordable homes are included in the proposals, while two homes on Fields Road would be partly demolished to provide room for a new vehicular access to the site.

Concerns over emergency vehicle access, and the size of the proposed development, were previously voiced.

However council officers have said they are satisfied the new access proposed off Fields Road to the south of the site is “much-improved compared to the current state of affairs.”

The proposals also include two play areas, one which will be equipped, and two designated areas of public open space.

The application will be considered by the council’s planning committee in the coming months.