Eden’s End?
Residents will be all too familiar with the increasing number of so called ‘Development Opportunities’ that beset us in Hall Green and which we continue do our utmost to resist. Current building threats that we are fighting include sites in or near Baldwins Lane, Scribers Lane and Harewood Close. There is continual sniffing around throughout our area by agents and those seeking to profit from dense construction on our green areas, frequently mature gardens.
One of the latest possibilities is likely to be number 100 Smirrells Road. This is the large bungalow situated on the attractive site at the corner of Smirrells Road and Kedleston Road.
As can be seen in the photograph, there is a good deal of greenery surrounding the bungalow, and the site has an area of over one third of an acre. An interesting hedge, mostly of holly, surrounds the bungalow and there are some good trees. Hedges are difficult to protect unless, as in the case of our medieval hedges, historic reasons can be cited. We are exploring this possibility.
There is an ironic aspect to the sale of 100 Smirrells Road. This is the name of the bungalow. It is called ‘Eden End’. Perhaps not boding well for the site itself, we must sustain our efforts to ensure that this will not prove to have wider significance for Hall Green, which, as a highly attractive mature suburb, has many of its very own little Edens. Long may they remain so.
