Varying arbitrary rules surrounding RPAs

[GnarlyBob]

I work for a company of architects and am struck by how inconsistent advice from tree officers at local authorities can be. We appoint a number of tree consultants to work on our behalf and value their advice, however it often falls on deaf ears.

My current bugbear is how inconsistent officers can be over works outside an RPA. Yes I said "outside" an RPA!

As I understand it BS5837 has prescriptive advice in relation to work inside of an RPA but does not need to provide advice for ground works outside of an RPA because, I presume, it can be considered that the protection of the tree has been suitably considered against the advice BS5837. Am I right?

 

What do I do about this?

Does anyone work with Tree Officers that seem to create arbitray rules surrouding RPAs?