1 Church Cottage Vine Lane Clent Worcestershire DY9 9PH
I would like to fell the Ash tree that sits on the boundary of the group preservation order in my back garden (G5). Reasons for wanting to carry out this work - 1) The tree now sits as part of a privately owned and maintained garden and would significantly improve this amenity if it were felled without impacting on the special character of the woodland behind it. 2) The group TPO refers to woodland, however this tree is not part of the woodland it is a stand alone tree - maybe it was part of the woodland in 1951 when the order was put in place but now is part of a maintained garden. 3) In the preservation order, it says that an OS map of Worcestershire from 1924 was used. I'm not sure that this tree would have been there then as when the tree inspector visited the site, he estimated the tree to be between 50 and 80 years old. If the tree had been planted at time of the TPO, it would have been very young but now is far too big to be in a back garden. 4) The health of the tree is not very good. It only grows on one side due to lack of light as the 'none-growth side' is shaded by the nearby woodland. There are many dead branches which often fall. This causes me great concern as my children and pets often play in the garden and I worry for their safety. 5) It is a very large tree which is very close to my house, electric cables (the electricity company have needed to cut back branches in the past) and overhangs a shared driveway. Neighbours have complained about branches falling onto their cars. 6) The tree inspector advised me that ash trees do not respond well to being reduced in size so this would not be an option. 7) All four properties adjacent to the tree (1, 2, 3, 4 Church Cottage) would benefit from greater sunlight in their gardens. I would not want to replant anything in its place as the area is surrounded by many trees and it also sits on the bank of the stream where subsidence could be an issue.