A Crewe family's mental health is being severely impacted, after a petrol station cut down several trees in front of their garden, with people now "constantly looking in" on them.

Nigel and Joanna Mellor purchased their home on Manor Avenue for their two children and two foster children, behind BP Crewe Road Service Station, in December 2022.

Last summer, the petrol station, owned by Penny Petroleum, carried out work around its air pipes and planned to remove ivy for safety reasons.

Nigel and Joanna Mellor purchased their home on Manor Avenue for their two children and two foster children, behind BP Crewe Road Service Station, in December 2022 (Ryan Parker).

This time, workers decided to cut down several oak trees, nowhere near the air pipes, opening up a large view of the Mellor family's garden to the public.

The Crewe family say their privacy is now being invaded with the open gap significantly increasing light pollution and noise pollution on to their property.

The removal of "very much alive" trees has also caused more litter ending up in Wistaston Brook, between the petrol station and property, with their children now "scared" to play in the garden.

Joanna told Nub News "We bought this property as our forever home. It had a big garden for our children plus our two foster children, which wasn't overlooked and very private.

"It had been like that since before the house was built in 2006, with the trees standing for decades.

"Penny Petroleum claimed they were dead trees but we have evidence of them being very much alive and are slowly growing back.

"When we saw the huge gaps in the foliage my husband went to speak to the manager at the time.

A person seen looking into the Mellor family's garden after the trees were cut down (Nub News).

"She clearly stated 'they weren't meant to cut the trees down, just clear the foliage around the vent pipes. I am so sorry. What can we do to correct this?'

"My husband said to erect fencing as now everyone on Crewe Road can see into our garden and house.

"She said "Of course we will. I completely understand why you are upset, i would be too.'

"We waited a while for them to get back to us, the manager said she had sent it to head office to sort everything out.

"A few months went by, we tried to contact her again and were told she had left.

"We contacted the head of maintenance who strung us along for weeks before sending us a letter stating 'we have no obligation to put up a fence on our land and won't' be doing so. Please feel free to put up your own fence on your property.'

"As we had already stated it was physically impossible to do this as the land the garage sits on is at least 20 foot higher than our garden level.

A view of BP Crewe Road Service Station, before the trees were cut down (Penny Petroleum).

"We paid hundreds of pounds for a solicitor to send them a letter asking for proof and requesting they could put up a fence. To which they basically replied 'no and if you take us to court you will lose.'

"We then contacted environmental health, who eventually came to inspect the problem.

"There is light pollution from the car headlights facing our house at all hours and a worse smell as the fumes when refuelling or spillages drift onto our property.

"It has also caused more water pollution from the rubbish that falls into the brook which is full of wildlife like squirrels, badgers, birds and foxes.

"There is also increased noise pollution due to cars leaving, engines running by the fence and people standing around waiting and talking.

"Our kids are scared to play outside and feel too uncomfortable as people are constantly looking in on the garden. Our privacy is being invaded."

Cheshire East Environmental Health have written to Penny Petroleum, but have had no response.

Litter from BP Crewe Road Service Station is spilling into Wistaston Brook since the trees were cut down (Nub News).

The Mellor family also contacted Crewe and Nantwich MP, Dr Kieran Mullan, who is trying to help and recently wrote to Penny Petroleum.

Joanna said: "Kieran was given the response of 'we don't have to put a fence up.'

"Now we are stuck. We are being affected by a multi-million pound company we can't win against.

"They do not care this is causing a great deal of stress to our foster children and our family. 

"The petrol station recently installed self-service laundry machines which has increased footfall and the amount of people looking in on the garden.

"We would want to sell our house as we feel very uneasy here now, but it's not very easy finding a large house with enough bedrooms for our family and foster children.

"To move would mean our foster children going back into care, which would be traumatic for them as they are part of our family now.

The Mellor family's two children and two foster children are now too 'scared' to play in the garden, with people 'constantly' looking in (Nub News).

"Plus, the view of the garage would be off putting to buyers and would de-value the house."

Crewe Nub News has contacted Penny Petroleum for comment.

READ MORE: Former Crewe and Nantwich MP quits Labour to become independent socialist councillor.

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