THEY had screened an unsightly sewage works for years.
But now the removal of a row of trees hiding a water treatment plant has caused upset among some residents.
Neighbours living next to Neiley Waste Water Treatment Works, New Mill Road, Brockholes, were shielded from the plant by a row of conifers.
They lined the plant alongside the main road.
But a large proportion of the trees were cut down last month allowing neighbours to see the eyesore site.
The site is owned by Keyland Developments, which is a sister company of Yorkshire Water.
Shirley Warren-Madden, who lives next to the plant, said: “I know the conifers weren’t protected, but there were yards of these beautiful trees being chopped down.
“I feel quite cross. I’m a nature lover and it’s changed our outlook an awful lot.
“We’re now looking out and can see the traffic go by which we couldn’t see before.
“Now some of our neighbours can see the water treatment works.”
A spokesman for Keyland Properties said: “We’re sorry to hear that some local residents are unhappy that the hedge has been removed. There were a number of factors for this.
“For some time a number of local residents had complained about the hedge and the fact that it attracted flies.
“Secondly, the hedge was, in fact, not in good health and was dying.
“Taking these factors into consideration, and only after a full ecological assessment, we felt it prudent to remove the hedge in question.”
