Agenda item

A report was submitted to request the committee to endorse the actions of the Council’s Arboricultural Officer/Planning Manager (Development Management) in making and serving 206 Preston New Road, Blackburn 2023 Tree Preservation Order (TPO) (ref: BWD5).

On the 22nd May 2023, a formal “Notice of intent to undertake works in a conservation area” was submitted by the Home Coordinator at Northwood Nursing & Residential Care, 206 Preston New Road, Blackburn to undertake pruning works to the Lime trees (ref: 10/23/0431) The system of notification (211 notice) provides the Council an opportunity to consider if trees should be made subject to a TPO.

The notification for works included options for pruning and possible removal of the Lime trees. The Council cannot consider multiple options for works and the Council’s Arboricultural officer sought clarification. A site meeting was arranged with the Home Coordinator and the owner attended, to clarify the proposed work.

Options for pruning were discussed which could resolve nuisance issues of low branches causing obstructions to vehicles, shading to the property and safety concerns. Also concerns regarding the disruption to a low boundary wall at the base of each tree were raised. It is recognised growth and expansion of the buttress of each tree, has over time resulted in movement to the wall. Repair and rebuilding options to allow for the retention of the trees were discussed. The owner’s preference was however to remove both of the trees.

The two Lime trees are large and the owner of the property was concerned about their safety and potential for falling branches.

From the site visit undertaken by the Arboricultural Officer, both trees looked to be in good health with vigorous canopies. It was recommended to the owner, that pruning to remove any weak or defective branches will keep the trees in an acceptable safe condition, thus safety concerns can be alleviated. If the health and stability of the trees are in question then a professional health and safety inspection report would need to be submitted that provides evidence that these trees are at risk. During the consultation period the Council has not received any objections or information contesting either trees condition.

The Arboricutural officer subsequently carried out a Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders (TEMPO), which was undertaken on the 13th July 2023. The assessment gave the tree a very high score of 18, which fully warrants a TPO.

The emergency TPO was served on the landowner/freeholder on the 17th July 2023.

It is fully appreciated both trees are large and dominate the entrance off St Silas Road, for this reason there would be no objection to suitable pruning works to remove low nuisance branches, but it is considered there are no justifiable reasons to warrant their removal.

Subsequently, on the 17th July 2023, the local planning authority objected to the notice to fell the trees with the making of a provisional TPO (ref: 10/23/0431).

RESOLVED –

That the actions of the Arboricuturalist and Planning Manager (Development Management) in making and Northwood Nursing & Residential Care, 206 Preston New Road/St Silas Road, Blackburn 2023 Tree Preservation Order (TPO) be endorsed.

That Northwood Nursing & Residential Care, 206 Preston New Road/St Silas Road, Blackburn 2023 Tree Preservation Order (TPO) (ref: BWD5) is confirmed without modification