MEMBERS of Dursley Town Council decided against removing a hedge following an outcry from members of the public.

The council’s green spaces committee met on Tuesday evening and discussed their proposal to remove the hedge between the Recreation Ground and Kingshill Road.

Strong objections to the idea spread across social media after it was first proposed and, following a vote by the committee, it was unanimously decided to keep the hedge and look into better methods of maintaining it.

The town council said in their proposal, made towards the end of last month, that displacing rats gathered in the hedge was a key reason for wanting to get rid of the section in question.

The other motives including improving the view from nearby homes and giving police easy sight of any young people hanging around the Rec and causing a nuisance.

However, there was fierce response from some Dursley residents who said that the reasons for removing the hedge were not strong enough.

Miriam Yagud, of Dursley, summarised some of the objections in her comments made shortly after the proposal was made.

“I was shocked to hear that the town council is considering removal of part of the hedge on the Rec adjoining Kingshill Road,” she said.

“I feel very strongly that this must not happen. The reasons given are not sufficient for the removal of this important hedge.

“The hedge provides an important wildlife corridor, refuge for birds, a barrier to noise and traffic pollution and helps to provide a safe separation between traffic and leisure activities along a busy main route into and out of the town.

“This is a lovely rural town. The green route along Kingshill Road is one of the lovely features of Dursley and it must not be removed.”

Councillors on the green spaces committee acknowledged the overwhelming public response in Tuesday's meeting.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Alex Stennett said: “We will not remove the hedge but investigate better ways of managing it.”

One resident of Kingshill Road attended the meeting. She spoke to the Gazette but did not wish to give her name.

“I’m thrilled that they’re not taking it down. It’s a beautiful hedge and it needs to stay,” she said.