Agenda item

To consider the confirmation of the 11 East Farm Mews, Backworth Tree Preservation Order 2020.

The Committee gave consideration as to whether to confirm the making of the 11 East Farm Mews, Backworth Tree Preservation Order 2020. The Order had been made to protect a Sycamore Tree located in the grounds of 11 East Farm Mews, Backworth on 3 April 2020 in response to information from the owners of the property that they were considering felling the tree in question due to their concerns of the tree causing damage to their property.

An objection to the confirmation of the Order had been received from the owners of the land on the grounds of:

a)     The size of the tree in relation to the property and potential damage it could cause and not being appropriate to the current surroundings;

b)     The tree has very limited amenity value, with almost no public visibility and therefore shouldn’t be considered for a TPO;

c)      The tree had suffered from branch failure and disease evidence on its leaves;

d)     The impact of the tree on the owners health was a serious concern; and

e)     Surrounding trees had been removed without being subject to a TPO therefore the principle to remove this tree should be acceptable.

The committee considered the objection, a response to the grounds for objection from the Council’s landscape architect and guidance relating to the making of tree preservation orders.

Resolved that the 11 East Farm Mews, Backworth Tree Preservation Order 2020 be confirmed without modification.

(Reasons for decision: The sycamore tree is in fair condition, reasonably healthy with no major defects. It has high amenity value, located in a prominent position within the rear garden, highly visible to and enjoyed by a significant number of occupiers of neighbouring residential properties and from vehicular traffic and pedestrians on East Farm Mews. The tree in question is an important element of the local landscape and its biodiversity and provides important screening across the rear gardens of neighbouring properties. Confirming the TPO will not prevent any necessary tree work from being carried out, but will ensure the regulation of any tree work to prevent unnecessary or damaging work from taking place that would have a detrimental impact on the amenity value, health and long term retention of the tree. Protecting the trees will be in accordance with policies DM5.9, S6.5 and DM6.6 of the Council’s Local Plan 2017.)