Overgrown Meadow

A few residents have asked why the front meadow with the horse isn’t maintained like the others. We completely understand concerns about the increased fire risk, especially with prolonged dry weather.

Here’s the issue: the previous site owners, Royale Life, built Chestnut Close and placed four homes directly across the legal right of way that the landowner needs to access it. As a result, the farmer responsible for cutting the fields around our community physically can’t get machinery in to reach that area.

The matter is being dealt with by our new owners but in the meantime, our grounds staff are stepping in and trimming a few meters beyond the the homes to create a firebreak even though the land owner doesn't accept there's a risk.

We’ve flagged the situation with Essex Fire and Rescue Service; but they’ve informed us that they currently have no power to compel landowners to cut back meadowland.