Mature oak tree on land in Warwick is saved by council preservation order

A mature oak tree on land at the rear of a garden in Warwick has been saved after councillors agreed to slap a tree preservation order [TPO] on it.
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But the decision is likely to disappoint one resident of Dickins Road who had asked for the tree to be chopped down because it was blocking access to her garage.

Members of Warwick District Council’s planning committee this week [TUE] were told by officers that they needed to decide whether the tree was of sufficient amenity importance to justify a TPO, and whether the public benefit of the tree outweighed any private inconvenience experienced by individuals.

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A report into the matter said that the oak had significant amenity value and could be seen from a number of different roads in the area. But it added that the council was not the landowner and therefore not responsible for the tree’s maintenance or damage caused by it. The objector explained that falling debris from the tree had damaged the garage and fence of their property and that a large crack had appeared in the concrete base of the garage.

They also argued that the tree blocked access to the garage but an enforcement officer told the meeting that there was an alternative access to the garage from the front of the property and that rear access past the tree would be a separate matter and would need to be discussed with the district council’s estates manager.

Cllr Terry Morris explained that putting a preservation order on a tree would not mean that it couldn’t be felled or that work couldn't be carried out on it in the future.

He said: “It just means that any requests for work must be formally submitted. We are not saying that tree will stay in perpetuity, we are just saying that if a TPO is authorised then it gives some protection against unauthorised work.

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“I am a big advocate for looking after our trees, we haven’t got enough in the district. We are supposed to be planting 160,000 more and have some way to go so I would always recommend issuing a TPO where they meet the relevant criteria which this does.”

Councillors agreed and voted unanimously to issue the order.