Issue - meetings

To confirm the following Tree Preservation Order:

65 Wood Vale, N10

The Committee considered a report, previously circulated, seeking to confirm the Tree Preservation Order placed on the specified Weeping Willow located at 65 Wood Vale, N10.

Two objectors addressed the Committee, and stated that the method on which the TPO was based had been applied incorrectly; the score for the tree fell well below the threshold for a defensible TPO due to the poor condition of the specimen, which had been damaged by pollarding, the estimated remaining life span of the tree, its limited crown size and the fact that it was only visible from the street, with difficulty, between two houses. The owner of the site expressed concern regarding the damage caused by the tree to his property, the risk posed by possible structural damage caused to the tree as a result of the pollarding that had been undertaken and the future costs of maintaining the specimen under a TPO.

In response to a question from the Committee, the site’s owner confirmed that the tree roots were causing damage to the terrace of the property.

Marc Dorfman, Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Economy, suggested that, in light of the evidence presented by the objectors, one of whom was an arboricultural professional, a temporary TPO be applied while the issues raised were looked into in greater detail, and the matter brought back to the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee agreed to pursue this course of action; it was further agreed that photographs of the tree would be included in the report when it was next considered, and the site would also be visited as part of the site visit for the next meeting.

RESOLVED

That this matter be deferred to the next scheduled meeting of the Planning Sub Committee.