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Hi thanks for reading this. I'd really appreciate anyone's views. Say I recently bought a site of about an acre, edge of town, long and thin with a mixture of semi mature broadleaf trees around the boundary (which I'm fine about keeping) and a strip of sycamore, ash, willow and others down the middle (about 20 tons) which I want to clear now for future development as a storage yard a couple of years down the line. No TPOs on the site at all and not in a conservation area. Q1- I'm wondering whether to contact the Tree Officer, tell them my plans and keep them onside - but I'm concerned that if they are over keen they might protect the lot. I looked at the Govt guidance on applying TPOs and the trees I'm wanting to fell are not really visible from a public place (although the site has been used by dog walkers occasionally - I'm about to fence the boundary) and I am keeping the boundary trees intact. I wondered how much the TOs go beyond the guidance and how easy it is to appeal a TPO decision if I am slapped with one? Q2- What happens when you apply for an FC felling licence? Does it sound the alarm at the Local Authority or anwhere else? adverts in the the local paper? Notice on site? And under what grounds might the FC refuse? there is possibly enough space if they required replanting but I'm not certain. If I started felling I think the adjoining residents would be on the phone to the Local Authority within minutes so I want to plan in advance. If any of the trees I want to fell were of significance or beauty I'd want to keep them but they are nothing amazing, all under 40 years old and a bit scrappy. I had contractor look a the site, very professional, liked him a lot, he explained the options and he's leaving the decision on contacting the TO in my hands, and he recommends obtaining a felling licence if he did the work. Many thanks in anticipation of your views