Aerial Inspection On TPOs

[The Timber Titan]

I was asked today by a colleague, do you actually need permisson to conduct an aerial inspection on a TPO?. Fankly i never thought about it i just kind of assumed you need permission anyway. I understand that you need permisson to work on a TPO but an aerial Inspection youre not directly working on the tree inself youre inspecting it. So do you need permission regardless?? What are your thoughts?

[htb]

No, prob best to use a cambium saver as would not want to be accused of causing damage.

[Dan Maynard]

Can't see why, you don't need permission to remove deadwood either. Quote from the gov website:

 

"An Order prohibits the:

 

cutting down

topping

lopping

uprooting

wilful damage

wilful destruction

of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent."

[Dan Maynard]

Actually I'm thinking given that wording a nice crown reduction not prohibited...

[Doug Tait]

So you're free to do a reduction in line with BS without permission then, according to the gov.

 

Dan beat me to it!

Edited October 18, 2023 by Doug Tait

[Anno]

I'd only try it if you have a spare £20,000 around.

[Chris at eden]

13 hours ago, Doug Tait said:

So you're free to do a reduction in line with BS without permission then, according to the gov.

 

Dan beat me to it!

Those terms are used as they are defined in law. Lopping and topping from the highways act. You are not prosecuted for topping though. It’s either wilful damage or wilful destruction.  So did the topping damage or destroy the tree.  They would have to show that the prosecution is in the public interest as well.  They could argue that an unnecessary crown reduction is damaging to visual amenity which realistically it usually is in my opinion.  In short, crown reduction is not exempt works. 

[Chris at eden]

15 hours ago, The Timber Titan said:

I was asked today by a colleague, do you actually need permisson to conduct an aerial inspection on a TPO?. Fankly i never thought about it i just kind of assumed you need permission anyway. I understand that you need permisson to work on a TPO but an aerial Inspection youre not directly working on the tree inself youre inspecting it. So do you need permission regardless?? What are your thoughts?

No you don’t need consent as long as you don’t damage or destroy the tree in the process. As someone else said you should use a cambium saver.  It’s worth letting the TO know as well in case they get a call from a neighbour. 

[Chris at eden]

1 hour ago, Anno said:

I'd only try it if you have a spare £20,000 around.

And the rest. Fines for wilful destruction have been unlimited on summary offence since 2015. 
 

[The Timber Titan]

20 minutes ago, Chris at eden said:

No you don’t need consent as long as you don’t damage or destroy the tree in the process. As someone else said you should use a cambium saver.  It’s worth letting the TO know as well in case they get a call from a neighbour. 

Whos the "TO" ??