Agenda item

To consider the provisional Tree Preservation Order 2021/56 - 60a Stockydale Road, Blackpool, FY4 5HR.

The Planning Committee considered Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 21/56 at 60a Stockydale Road, Blackpool.  Miss Susan Parker, Head of Development Management, informed the Committee that the item was before Members because an objection had been made against the proposed creation of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) at number 60a Stockydale Road which related to five trees to the north west of the property.  The trees were all individual specimens that did not form a coherent group for the purposes of a TPO with three of the trees being sycamore and the other two trees being horse chestnut.

The trees were considered to warrant protection because of known development pressures in the immediate vicinity.  The assessment and Tree Preservation Order was triggered by a planning application for 60a Stockydale Road and that proposed development posed an immediate threat from in that it would affect the root systems and potentially cause ill health of the trees and/or loss of tree cover.

The trees had been assessed using the Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders (TEMPO) and assessed as being in fair to good condition and in a semi-mature state, providing amenity to the surrounding area.  As the trees were semi-mature, they would be present for some time and would benefit the area as they mature.  One or two trees could need removing in the future to benefit the dominant specimens and this could be done through the planning process.

The Council served notice of its intention to create the Tree Preservation Order on the relevant interested parties in May 2021 and an objection was received from one of the parties in June 2021.  The objection disputed the quality of the trees and the reason for making the Order.  The Committee was informed that Section 198 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 stated that a Tree Preservation Order should be made if it is expedient in the interests of amenity to do so.  The Council’s Parks Development Manager maintained that the trees were of sufficient quality to warrant a Tree Preservation Order and Member were requested to support its creation.

Ms Danielle Powell spoke in objection to the application and showed the Committee a short video of the other trees in the vicinity of the property and stated that these had not been subjected to a Tree Preservation Order.  Ms Powell was of the view that the Tree Preservation Order was not appropriate and gave examples of orders which she felt were contradictory. 

The Planning Committee discussed the Tree Preservation Order at length and noted that in should these items be brought before the Committee in future, then an expert officer should attend to present the item and answer the technical questions.

The Planning Committee highlighted the responsibility of Local Authorities to protect trees in its area and that it was a difficult balance between this responsibility and the ‘owners’ of the trees.  Members asked that officers consider evaluating other trees in the vicinity.

Resolved:

To confirm Tree Preservation Order 21/56 at 60A Stockydale Road, Blackpool.