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DESTRUCTION of woodland is signalling the start of a traffic relief route and the end of the road for campaigners who tried to save a centuries-old copse.
The dramatic swathe of tree-felling has also opened up views of the old St Francis Hospital site in Haywards Heath that have not been seen for nearly 150 years.
Walkers, drivers, and cyclists approaching from Rocky Lane and Wivelsfield Road can clearly see the buildings for the first time since the former 'Sussex Lunatic Asylum' opened in July 1859 on land at Hurst House Farm.
When the felling is finished later this year the barren landscape will be transformed into a roundabout, part of a relief road, about 90 houses, and local estate roads.
Only a small clump of trees next to Wivelsfield Road remains standing and campaigners who fought hard to avoid the destruction of ancient Anscombe Wood have acknowledged that the new views signal the end of the campaign.
They will now concentrate on ensuring that the remaining woodland, about 25 per cent, survives for future generations.
Brian High, executive committee member for the Fox Hill Association, which took up the cause of the woodland, said after viewing the wide expanse of wasteland: "We expected an impact. Personally I didn't think it would be quite so open. It's a new vista and it's a shock.
"In the end there will be about 25 per cent of the original ancient woodland left, just a thin strip alongside the road."
More woodland destruction is expected in September when land is cleared for about 90 houses after Government approval is confirmed.
In June the main work on building a five-spur roundabout, a key element in the relief road, is scheduled to start after the current approved spate of clearance and preparation is complete.
The roundabout will link the Rocky Lane section of the relief road from Bolnore with the eastern section through Anscombe Wood across fields to the A272 near the Birch Hotel and also serve local routes.
As the clearance gang does its work, Brian Gray, another executive committee member of the Fox Hill Association, said: "After all these years we finally must acknowledge that our campaign to stop the construction of the eastern section of the relief road through ancient woodland has failed. On a slightly happier note, however, developers Crest Nicholson have established a rapport with our association, being anxious to inflict as little environmental damage as possible during development work.
"Part of that process will be to endeavour to translocate some of the ancient woodland soil.
"We remain hopeful and will liaise with them during the whole construction period, and with them and the district council over the subsequent management of the remains of Anscombe Wood."
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Weather for Haywards Heath
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -0 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: West
