Lime tree TPO's

[Grahamf]

Would welcome some advice

I have about 20 lime trees in my back garden all subject to TPO's .

 

Some of these trees are about 40feet high and block out sun in the back garden plus makes it difficult to grow plants.The council refuses to allow the crown to be reduced and only allows pollarding.

 

We are thinking of having an extension but am concerned about how close the extension will be to the trees in terms of root damage but also blocking out the light.

 

Is there any advice out there on how to approach council to take a more sympathetic view?

 

Thanks

[Phil71]

If they will let you pollard the trees, isn't that problem solved?

[skyhuck]

If they will let you pollard the trees, isn't that problem solved?

 

Sounds ideal!!

 

Although I'm very surprised they will allow them to be pollarded, but not reduced??

 

Are you sure this is correct??

[Quercus-90]

POLLARD!

 

 

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[Mark Bolam]

Were they there when you bought the house?

[swinny]

Reduction needed..... not pollard

[54gka]

Pollard seems fair.TPO'S are there for a good reason.A customer of mine had the same problem.They to wanted to build an extension but LA refused planning as the footings would mean disturbing the root structure.What the LA say goes.

[Grahamf]

First time I have used this site and actually quite impressed with the number of responses!

 

Number of points raised

 

Yes the trees were there when we bought the house . Admittedly I did not appreciate that the local authority would take such a strict view. I am not attempting to take the trees down but just reduce them in height so that they do not take over the whole garden. A group of the trees nearest to the house have been kept at a lower height ( about 15 feet) but the others had been allowed to grow by the previous occupants.

 

Pollarding ( in my personal experience for these trees) only takes off the recent growth and does not have a significant impact on the height. The wording in the approval document is ' pollard back to previous pollard points' or something like that.

 

Reduction has been refused on the grounds it would 'damage the health of the trees'.

 

The limes are vigorous growers and in autumn time the whole of the lawn is deep in leaves.

 

From my (admittedly bias) perspective I am surprised that the trees are subject to TPO's as they are not visible from public view.

[TGB]

... From my (admittedly bias) perspective I am surprised that the trees are subject to TPO's as they are not visible from public view.

Perhaps someone in the LA likes to look at them on 'Google Maps'..

[treequip]

First time I have used this site and actually quite impressed with the number of responses!

 

Number of points raised

 

Yes the trees were there when we bought the house . Admittedly I did not appreciate that the local authority would take such a strict view. I am not attempting to take the trees down but just reduce them in height so that they do not take over the whole garden. A group of the trees nearest to the house have been kept at a lower height ( about 15 feet) but the others had been allowed to grow by the previous occupants.

 

Pollarding ( in my personal experience for these trees) only takes off the recent growth and does not have a significant impact on the height. The wording in the approval document is ' pollard back to previous pollard points' or something like that.

 

Reduction has been refused on the grounds it would 'damage the health of the trees'.

 

The limes are vigorous growers and in autumn time the whole of the lawn is deep in leaves.

 

From my (admittedly bias) perspective I am surprised that the trees are subject to TPO's as they are not visible from public view.

 

Just to clear the terminology

 

A pollard is a much greater measure than a reduction. Its generally a removal of all branch material back to the main stem.

 

Since protected trees are involved you might want to consider some professional input on site.

 

An arboricultural consultant would be able to advise you and if needed (sounds like it is) a report to BS 5837 (trees in relation to construction) to be submitted as support to your planning application.