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Removal of Protected Silver Birch
rebecca_wilding2000
Posts: 1
Hi - we (or tree specialists) have applied to the local council on a number of occasions for the removal of a preserved Silver Birch - which is unsightly, very tall and unstable looking, with roots causing damage to sewers and driveway. Could anyone recommend how I should approach an application for its total removal.
0
Posts
What reasons have the councils given in the past for refusal?
We live in an area close to a protected woodland and pretty much all the trees on properties in the adjacent area are heavily covered by TPOs.
The standard response to applications for treeworks (that are refused) here being:
.... The works would thus result in an adverse impact upon the visual amenity, ecology and wildlife, shelter and screening of the surrounding area.
We had work done on two beech and one silver birch which were all covered by TPO's as well as several Ash trees which were not. The beech trees were / are enormous.
Fortunately our tree surgeon knew the council tree officer well and rather than us submit an application the tree surgeon had the tree officer come out to our property to talk through the plans in person. This meant there could be some on-site 'negotiation' before the application went in. After that it was pretty much straightforward. This definitely helped in our instance.
It was interesting that the tree surgeon told me it was very much down to the individual currently in that role of tree officer and that some were much more relaxed than others about work that could or couldn't be done.