A GROUP of teenagers who built a treehouse watched as it was torn down under orders of the council.
Pals started building the den in Hermitage Lane woods, near Bartlett Way, Maidstone, Kent, on May 27,
The idea initially was to create somewhere to simply hangout but the plans grew as more teens got involved.
Ultimately, some 15 teenagers helped out and it was built using logs which had been lying about in the woodland for some time.
Then a tarpaulin roof was added, even a front door was put in and a viewing platform built.
But the dream turned to dust on July 26 when some 10 employees from Croudace Homes, the developer of the neighbouring Hermitage Park Estate, fenced off the area and started cutting the treehouse down with a chainsaw.
According to Maidstone council, it instructed the developer to take down the structure because it caused “serious harm which is damaging and detrimental to the protected ancient woodland” and it was “considered as criminal damage”.
One teenager, who was involved in building the treehouse and did not want to be named told Kent Online: “Everybody loved it, people would smile at us and praise us saying how good it is when they went past.
“We don’t want to be sat indoors all day playing on our Xbox, so building this was a lot better, and we went there and enjoyed it.”
He added that he and his pals were “upset” over the loss of the treehouse because they’d spent so long building it and that it wasn’t harming anyone or doing any damage.
He added: “They got a chainsaw and were ripping it to pieces but were telling us they didn’t want to do it and were apologising.
“They destroyed it in front of us – the only thing we find fun, they’ve taken away.”
The lad’s mum said the whole community was “outraged” as there hadn’t been any dialogue with the children.
The parent added that the children had taken a lot of pride in creating their den and had got them outside in the fresh air and off their digital products.
Ethan Lyne, 13, was also involved in building the treehouse and unhappy it had been destroyed.
His mum Mel Banham said there was nothing sinister about the place and was just somewhere they could meet and stopped them hanging around street corners in town.
After the treehouse was dismantled, two signs have appeared from Croudace Homes which state: “This area is a protected ancient woodland.
“Several activities have taken place including cutting of protected trees, digging around tree routes, fly-tipping of furniture and suspected drug use. This has been reported to the police.”
Mel denied those involved in building the treehouse were smoking drugs.
She did say older kids did smoke drugs in the woods but they had nothing to do with the den.
Ethan’s dad James said: “Croudace Homes has built through ancient woodland, they must have ripped down 100 trees in order to put the road through.
“But yet they’ve informed the police that the kids are causing damage to an ancient woodland for building a den in there.
Planning permission guidance according to gov.uk
You will need to request planning permission if you wish to build something new, make a major change to your building or change the use of your building – for example starting a business.
To find out if you need planning permission you should contact your Local Planning Authority through your council.
If planning permission is refused you can appeal.
You are able to appeal if you were refused planning permission for reasons that you think go against the LPA’s development plan or planning policy (you can usually find these on their website).
You can also appeal if you were granted planning permission with conditions you object to – you’ll need to explain why you think they’re unnecessary, unenforceable, vague, unreasonable or irrelevant.
Another ground for appeal is if the LPA has not given you a decision on your application and 8 weeks have passed since the date they told you they’d received it (or a different deadline you agreed with them has passed).
“It’s hypocritical and disgraceful coming from the developers who have caused much more damage to that woodland than the kids ever have.
“I’m sure the police have better things to do than chase kids playing in the woods.”
James added there could have been a conversation with the children rather than “a heavy-handed approach”.
Maths teacher John Harmer said he had enjoyed watching the treehouse evolve, saying it was “more sophisticated” than the ones he built as a child.
He said that by building the treehouse, they were keeping out of harm’s way and learning practical skills.
One teen said: “You hear about teenagers going round with knives, while we’re just trying to build something in the woods – it’s not like we’re doing anything wrong to anyone and they’ve taken it away from us.”
A spokesperson for Maidstone council said: “MBC understands the concerns raised regarding young people’s mental health and the need for outdoor play.
“However, the tree house that has been constructed in Hermitage Lane Woods has caused serious harm, which is damaging and detrimental to the protected ancient woodland, and therefore considered as criminal damage.
“The construction company has conditions that they have to adhere to as well as a duty to protect and maintain the ancient woodland, however, MBC has contacted the developer to remove the fencing and all the structures, wood and rubbish in the area.”
The Sun Online has contacted Croudace Homes for comment.
