Frustrated Brimington residents have raised concerns over privacy, safety and environmental impacts after they woke up to contractors chopping down trees outside their windows early in the morning.

Residents have been left upset after Together Housing significantly cut a number of trees at Lydden Close on Wednesday, September 2.

The trees, reportedly cherry laurel, provided the surrounding houses with privacy and security and were home to birds and squirrels.

Now residents feel they are living in a ‘fish bowl’ with neighbours and passers-by able to look right into their windows.

Cllr Richard Smith at at Lydden close in Brimington after a numer of trees were cut down.

placeholder image — Cllr Richard Smith at at Lydden close in Brimington after a numer of trees were cut down.

Kelly Bingham, who has lived in the area for about five years, said: "They woke us up around 7.30 in the morning.

"I was absolutely mortified as were a lot of my neighbours.

“They have absolutely ruined the neighbourhood.

“Every time I look out of the window I feel like crying.

Residents said the trees provided them with privacy and acted as a barrier between the gardens and the road, with many concerned about safety.

"We have all lost our privacy.

"As one of my neighbours said it's like we are all in a fish bowl being looked at.”

Kelly, who said residents did not get notice about the tree works, has raised further concerns over safety.

She said: "They didn't even tell us they were doing it. It's disgusting.

Residents said they were not informed of the tree works.

"They were using big chainsaws and cutting massive branches down – it’s dangerous because little children play down there in the gardens and a branch could have fallen at them.

"And there's a security issue as well because now people can get up the backs of our fences and get into our gardens.”

Bec Sandy who lives at Lavant Court, added: "We didn’t get any notice that the trees were being cut down.

“We are not happy about it.

Now the trees were cut down and residents said the neighbourhood was 'ruined'.

"Now the street above can see right into our living room and bedroom as they are at the front."

Further concerns were raised about impact on birds and wildlife.

Bec said: "I know for a fact that there were birds in those trees as we hear them every morning and noticed there were significantly less bird chirping in the morning since.

"I know local cats also liked to hide in the trees and bushes as well and they can no longer do that. "

Kelly added: “We have a lot of wildlife here – birds, squirrels, and we have bats at night as well.

"When I came home after they just finished cutting the trees the birds were flying around, going crazy.

The trees, reportedly cherry laurel, provided the surrounding houses with privacy and security and were a home to birds and squirrels.

"I was shocked. I just couldn't believe it.”

Residents also said that the tree provided an important wind barrier, which was now gone.

Kelly explained: “We're totally open to all the elements now too and it's very windy today and already my fence is damaged from the wind tunnelling through the massive void they have created.

"All my garden lights and hanging items are blowing off also and breaking.”

Natalie Hawson, who has lived locally for 14 years, said that complaints were raised about the state of the trees and residents asked Togther Housing to trim some branches but not to cut the trees altogether.

She said: “For at least two years I’ve been asking emailing Together Housing to ask them to cut the tops of the trees as they were so overgrown they were bending towards our gardens on steeping close, and shedding leaves, berries and causing such a mess.

"I explained they were overgrown on both our side and the flats side.

"Every time I was told nothing would be done even when I said the branches could fall on my children.

"People had started dumping rubbish in the trees on the flats side too as it was easy to hide it.

"I explained we did not want them cutting down as they provided privacy, security and a noise barrier.

“Together Housing turned up last Wednesday without informing anybody and we presumed they were finally looking after the trees and trimming them back.

"When I returned they have cut sections of them completely down but left odd ones – without pruning and cutting the tops off these.

"They have made such a mess, myself and my neighbours now have no privacy, people can access our gardens from the flats side, and I hate to think what their actions have done to our house prices.

"People can literally see into our bedroom and kitchen.

"It’s not safe for my children to play in our garden anymore as anyone can get to them.

"Email complaints sent to Together Housing are just ignored.”

A number of residents said they have contacted Together Housing to ask why the trees were cut down and why they were not consulted before the decision was made.

Kelly added: “I think they didn't ask us if we wanted it doing because we would all have said no.

"The amount of people that it's caused grievance and disruption to is just unbelievable.”

Residents contacted Councillor Richard Smith, Derbyshire County Council member for Brimington, who is currently looking into the issue.

He said: “The trees have all been massacred.

"Instead of cutting them back for safety, the housing association have decided to fully cut them down.

"It has caused a lot of issues with local residents.

"They are not happy about it for privacy issues and environmental issues because that there were a lot of birds nests in these trees and they have all disappeared.”

Chesterfield Borough Council confirmed the trees in question were not a subject to CPO and no planning application was required to carry out tree works.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield Borough Council, said: "These trees are not inside a conversation area and not covered by a tree preservation order.

"The removal of these trees is at the landowner's discretion and does not require approval from the council."

Together Housing said that the decision to cut down the laurel was ‘not taken lightly’ but was necessary due to ‘shrubs becoming significantly overgrown’.

The company said they received a number of concerns over the state of the laurel bushes and added that the works were carried out after the birds’ nesting season.

Together Housing said they had informed their residents of upcoming works.

Clare Atkinson, Assistant Director for Place Shaping at Together Housing, said: “Together Housing is a landlord that invests in places and, as such, they need to be kept well maintained and the people that live there need to feel safe and enjoy their space.

“We had listened to several concerns about the state of a number of laurel bushes which had grown to near tree height and had attracted fly-tipping.

"While we wanted to act on these concerns as soon as possible, it was important that we did not disturb the bushes during nesting season, so we began work as soon as we were able to in September.

"Ahead of this we advised our tenants of the forthcoming work.

“I understand the concerns raised by local people who were not our residents and who had not been informed that the work was taking place. We have learned from this and, where future work takes place, we will be letting neighbouring properties that are not our tenants know in advance.

"I‘m sorry this didn’t happen and I apologise for any concern this caused.

“We’re sorry to hear that some residents feel the cutting back of the hedges has left their gardens exposed.

"We appreciate their concerns, but assure them that the hedges will grow again quickly, and we hope they agree that it is important we maintain the bushes growing alongside their boundary.

"Our neighbourhood staff are talking with several residents and, if it is appropriate, we will offer further advice or support.”