This application is to undertake work to 42 highway trees in Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre. Work proposals for each tree are listed on the attached tree survey. The project has arisen as a result of conflict between trees and CCTV security cameras located throughout the town centre, with trees inhibiting the effectiveness of the cameras. Tree pruning and felling has been requested to enable CCTV to be fully effective. However, this would result in a sharp deterioration in the landscape quality of the town so this proposal represents a compromise with only one tree to fell and modest pruning of other trees, mainly by way of crown lifting and lateral pruning of branches away from buildings.It is likely that two new cameras will be set up where adequate tree-pruning is deemed to be unfeasible. The tree to fell is a semi-mature honey locust located at the Ironmarket end of Castle Walk. The removal of this one tree will enable unhindered CCTV coverage in Castle Walk. In view of the reason for felling we do not propose to replace this tree with a new specimen. The Staffordshire County Council Senior Tree Officer has been consulted over these proposals and has indicated his support for the proposals.

One birch, one laburnum and three cherry trees to fell due to poor health. A further five cherry trees to prune by way of crown lifting over paths and carriageway and pruning around lamp columns. A re-landscaping scheme is to be undertaken as part of this work with full proposals for the planting of new replacement trees.

Row of Conifers (C1) - remove for extra light and space in the garden, re-landscape with more appropriate species Row of Conifers (C2) - reduce in height approx 2.5m and new growth removed from house side only to maintain size in relation to the garden.