Preet Kaur Gill MP has written to National Grid and Highways England to demand that financial compensation is offered to residents in Quinton who have been seriously affected by the cutting of trees along the M5 motorway. A line of 50 trees at the back of Clay Drive have provided residents with a natural sound barrier and privacy from motorway traffic, since the estate was first built.
However, the line of trees were cut down this week without resident’s being properly notified or consulted by National Grid. In an interview with the BBC, local resident, Melanie Davies said that “It’s as if I’ve got the motorway in my house”. Other residents have said that the value of their property has dipped by as much as £30,000. Preet is now leading calls for trees to be reinstated to prevent noise pollution and for financial compensation to be offered to residents.
In her letter to National Grid, Preet has criticised Highways England for being “unhelpful” and suggested that the tree cutting could also have severe environmental and ecological consequences.
You can read her full letter here
