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Help me save a lovely Horse Chestnut tree.

20 replies

Madoldcatlady · 13/01/2008 13:18

Our neighbour, DHs cousin, is planning to fell a tree on our boundary but predominantly on his side.

We believed there was a TPO in place but last night the cousin told DH this wasn't the case and he was going ahead with his plan.

We'll contact the council tomorrow to see if there is a TPO but as we go on holiday on Tuesday I suspect it will be done and dusted by the time we ger back.

I will be devasted if it is chopped down as I'm a bit of a tree hugger at heart. I suspect the tree will be around the same age as the houses (circa 1875) and it's such a big (40ft?) tree that it will be horribly missed.

We live in a built up are so the tree is one of very few around here. I'm clutching at straws but determined to save it if I can.

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itchscratch · 13/01/2008 13:28

shame about the tree, why is he chopping it, to make parking spaces?

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Madoldcatlady · 13/01/2008 22:15

Hi itchy. Yes he wants more parking to get PP for his basement flat.

Cold bath. Piriton. Sudocrem. Docs first thing in the morning.

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Whizzz · 13/01/2008 22:22

DH says phone up council ASAP in the morning - as they will check TPO status & if it hasn't got one they are likely (well DH would) to go & have a look pronto if there us a risk that its a nice tree and is at risk of felling. If its worthy of a TPO will do one there & then. On the other hand if the tree is in poor condition, they may well agree that the best option is felling.

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Madoldcatlady · 13/01/2008 22:35

Thanks Whizz. Is your DH in the business? The tree is in glorious condition. All 40 or so feet of it.

What would be required to get a TPO on it?

Spoke to another neighbour today who said there were historic tales attatched to the tree.

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Rhubarb · 13/01/2008 22:35

Chain yourself naked to the tree and call the media.

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Madoldcatlady · 13/01/2008 22:37

I've asked my mate if she'd be chained to it with me already. I seriously would.

Skip the naked bit though. They'd just chop it down quicker to cover us up.

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Whizzz · 13/01/2008 22:41

DH is a tree consultant but has worked for the council also. To get a TPO you would have to convince the council that its worthy of one - they would then have to go through their procedures. If the tree is in imminent danger they shoudl do this ASAP

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Madoldcatlady · 13/01/2008 22:44

Thanks for that again Whizz. I'll be on the phone first thing, in between taking kids to school,packing mine and Dhs cases,taking DD3 to docs for antibiotics and getting my Rands sorted for the holiday on Tuesday.

If he chops it down while were away, I swear to God I'll kill him.

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Whizzz · 13/01/2008 22:46

Phone as soon as offices open.....to gvive them chance to come & see it

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Whizzz · 13/01/2008 22:47

let me know what happens ! & have a nice hol

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Madoldcatlady · 14/01/2008 15:12

Bloody council. Spoke to a pleb on the phone who said there is no TPO on it. Couldn't speak to anyone with a brain as he was in a meeting.

They said to writre to them with my concerns but as I said it'll all be done before I get back in 2 weeks.

I asked how to get a TPO on it and all she said was if it's not on your property you can't! Aparently it's a civil matter and no one will come to llok at the tree.

Bloody furious. I was almost in tears on the phone. Felt like banging my head on a brick wall!

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Whizzz · 14/01/2008 15:58

DH (who has been employed by a local council) said that in the same situation, he would have come out to have a look. But apparantly it does depend ont he dreaded 'council procedures' which could vary greatly.
Could you get the guys name you need to speak to & get put through to him direct ?? Don't give up !

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Madoldcatlady · 14/01/2008 19:14

Thanks for you support whizz.

I've sent a letter of just now as I'll not be able to communicate after tomorrow.

14.01.08.

Dear Mr. Dracup,

I tried to speak to you today (14th January 2008) regarding the felling of a Horse Chestnut tree on the boundary of mine and my neighbours property, () but I believe you were in a meeting at the time.
The tree stands at between 30 and 40 feet tall and is obviously of a great age.

When we bought our house on the corner of
, 4 years ago, the tree was the most attractive feature in our immediate vicinity and played a large part in our choosing this house.

We believe that the tree is a great asset to the area as there are very few of this type or size in the locality. It provides habitat for many birds and insects in an area that that is lacking in such and is rife with predators (cats). The tree is outstandingly beautiful when if full leaf.

We spoke to the former residents here and at the property in which the tree stands (
) and both parties assured us that there was a preservation order on the tree. They were aware of this because at one time they had applied to have it removed and were not able to do so due to a TPO.

My neighbour (Mr.Tree Killing Bastard) is planning to fell the tree and pour diesel on the stump to kill it.

So, a few questions I would have like answered had I been able to chat to you today-

If there was, historically, a TPO on this tree, why is there not one now?

When would a TPO be removed and why?

When was this tree assessed physically to see if it warranted a TPO and on what grounds was a TPO not awarded?

What would be required in order for a TPO to be awarded? ( i.e. age, type, location of tree?)

I have a friend, living in a much more rural, leafy location in
, who has a large tree in his garden. He has applied several times to have this tree felled and has been repeatedly refused, as the tree is protected. It is a mountain ash, far more common, I would have thought, than a 150 year old Horse Chestnut growing in the city centre.

I can?t understand why the tree in a location awash with all manner of other trees is protected and ?ours? is permitted to be chopped down when it provides so much pleasure to so many people living in an otherwise dull, urban environment.

I?m also aware of bleeding canker, a widespread disease affecting 35-50,000 Horse Chestnuts in the country at this time. Surely when this tree is being felled in great numbers throughout the country due to disease, healthy specimens should be preserved?

If the tree is to be felled, I have great concerns over Health and Safety owing to the position of the tree, within a very short distance of my house and over a very busy road junction. Do you have regulations in place to ensure the felling is done without danger to property and/or person? Will a council representative be supervising the tree?s destruction?

I am going on holiday tomorrow (15th January) for two weeks and am worried that I?ll return to find the deed already done without any investigation as to whether it should be permitted or not.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my issues and would be very grateful if you would give them your best consideration.

Yours Sincerely Tree Hugger

Obviously I've removed names and addresses and inserted more appropriate aliases to protect all concerned.

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Mercy · 14/01/2008 19:19

Also phone your local branch of Friends of the Earth and any other similar group asap for advice

(this is what people do here)

Good luck!

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Madoldcatlady · 14/01/2008 19:28

Wher are you Mercy.
Good idea.

Still ironing/packing for holiday tomorrow. Will look for a number tho.

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araucaria · 14/01/2008 20:38

Brilliant letter
I really hope it works
Bloody council, Bloody neighbour
Good Luck

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discoverlife · 19/01/2008 00:20

If worse comes to worse. Knobble him by buying as big a specimen as you can and planting it in the same spot slightly more to your side.

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Jackstini · 19/01/2008 00:24

Good idea Discover
Let us know what happened Mad

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Madoldcatlady · 30/01/2008 18:47

Hello everyone. Got back from South Africa today and to my joy the tree is still there.

I sent the letter off 2 weeks ago before we went and I haven't had a reply yet. I hope that means the council are giving it some serious consideration rather than that the letter is at the bottom of a pile somewhere.

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araucaria · 30/01/2008 23:22

Hi Mad
Good news about the tree - but it might be worth chasing the council - in my area most correspondance seems to go missing / lost / to the wrong person etc whenever I try to communicate with a beaurocracy!
Hope you have a good holiday.

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