Advice for LA Conservation areas and TPO trees

[Djvicke1]

I have been asked to take down a large Sycamore in the middle of a local town.

 

However there is no Tree Officer in this area so it has to go through the planning department.

 

This is the first time I've been asked to remove a tree in a town centre so I'm not completely sure of the protocol.

 

How should I go about this?

 

What do those of you who do this regularly usually ask to see (works to trees forms etc) or contact?

 

Any help much appreciated

[Anno]

Is it in a TCA?

 

Are there any TPO's on individual trees?

 

What is the situation regarding ownership?

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi there, sorry but I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here?

 

For the "full monty" on TPOs etc. see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas

 

If however your question is about what do you require to see from the tree owner, essentially either a consent notice (dated within the last 2 years) if TPO'd or some form of official communication from the Council, again within the last 2 years, if the tree is within a Conservation Area.

 

Remember "YOU" will commit the offence if you proceed without permission.

 

Cheers,

Paul

[treequip]

I have been asked to take down a large Sycamore in the middle of a local town.

 

However there is no Tree Officer in this area so it has to go through the planning department.

 

This is the first time I've been asked to remove a tree in a town centre so I'm not completely sure of the protocol.

 

How should I go about this?

 

What do those of you who do this regularly usually ask to see (works to trees forms etc) or contact?

 

Any help much appreciated

 

 

TPO and CA are both matters of public record.

 

Ask the planners to do a CA and TPO check on the property

 

Make a contemporaneous note of the date and time and the name of the person providing the information.

[Gary Prentice]

And as Anno said, check that your client has a authority, through ownership, to do the actual work, if no TPO/CA prevents it.

[Djvicke1]

Thanks for the replies. The customer says its his land but also says he "has a mate on the council and his solicitor says if he doesn't hear off the council for a month he can go ahead" but that isn't very reassuring to me.

 

I have checked with the LA planning who are in charge of the trees as there is no TO, they have told me that there 'doesn't seem to be any TPO's on that road but said it could be a conservation area' so they don't seem to be very clued up themselves.

 

If it is some kind of conservation area what should be my course of action? It just seems odd that a large sycamore in the middle of the town doesn't have some kind of restriction on it, but like I said I haven't done any very public work until now so just wondering what the normal course of action is when asked to do a job like this especially if the customer or the council are slightly unsure themselves.

[Djvicke1]

Thanks Paul for the link and sorry for being a bit vague but yes I guess I was just asking what I need to see from the customer in order to go ahead with works.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

If you get to the bottom of any statutory protection issues are you all squared away for traffic management and sound / safe working practices mindful that it sounds like it could be highly visible and possibly with public near to hazard area? Also worth having some thoughts / contingency in case of public protest / obstruction. The sound of a chainsaw seems to attract all sorts of interest!

[Chipperclown]

Hi this is my tick list that I use in general, its just my guide. Like others have mentioned, if unsure do not take on the work. Good Luck.

 

Who own’s the tree and the ground it stands on

 

What council authority

 

Contact the council Tree Officer or Planning department

 

Record all details of the conversation, names, dates, times

 

Follow up with a letter/email to the council seeking permission

 

If required submit an application (I do these as a matter of course when in greys areas)

 

You will receive a job reference letter from the council

 

6-8weeks delay

 

Decision

 

Public area safety

 

Road area closure may be needed (apply to the council confirm costs)

 

Traffic Management (confirm costs)

 

Consider fencing of the working area to protect the public

 

Chapter 8 signage

 

Risk assessments/method statements

 

May need to top up insurances

[Anno]

In relation to a TCA (Tree in a Conservation Area) you would need to go through the formal planning process and the LA could decide yes or no to permission, if they said no in general they would then serve a TPO on the tree - the onus is on them to do the checks.