Latest news with #PreservationOrder
Daily Record
a day ago
- General
- Daily Record
West Lothian lime trees in historic street saved from the chop
West Lothian Council's Development Management Committee was asked to decide on whether to support the TPO that was imposed in March. A row of lime trees in a historic West Lothian street have been protected by a Tree Preservation Order in a dispute of demand for felling. West Lothian Council's Development Management Committee was asked to decide on whether to support the TPO that was imposed in March. Without councillors backing the TPO would have lapsed in September which could have seen up to six of a line of 10 lime trees in Provost Road, Linlithgow, fall to the axe. A planning officer told the DMC: 'The site is located within the Linlithgow Palace & High Street Conservation Area, and as such, all proposed tree works within this area, first requires notification to be submitted to the council.' A tree works consent notification for the felling of six lime trees at 7 Provost Road, Linlithgow was received on the 13th February 2025. The notification was for the removal of the six trees in settlement of a legal action. A report to the DMC added: 'During assessment of the notification, a visual assessment of the trees was undertaken along with a Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders (TEMPO) assessment. The TEMPO assessment was completed by the council's Arborist and it was determined that the trees subject to the notification, and an additional four others, were found to 'Definitely merit TPO', this was further supported by the visual assessment carried out. 'As a result of this, Tree Preservation Order (No. 1) 2025, 7 Provost Road, Linlithgow was made on the 27th March 2025. The order covers ten Common Limes which form part of a lime tree feature, at the heart of east Linlithgow's historic centre, requiring to be protected due to amenity and contribution to local landscape, which adds to the wooded character and setting of local paths, roads and public realm.' Legal action is ongoing and a separate issue to the confirmation of the TPO, the committee heard. Councillors heard there was one objection to the TPO from a neighbour who claimed that the trees were damaging property. The owners of the trees had applied to the council for a felling licence which prompted the move to the TPO. Councillors heard that the trees were in good condition 'were safe, and in good health despite previous pollard, and without major defect.' The report added: 'The avenue of limes at the site, is a landscape feature of the local neighbourhood, and forms part of the wooded character of this part of Linlithgow. The trees are highly visible from local footpaths, and roads as they take advantage of the rising gradient. 'The lime trees have been previously pollarded and crown lifted, with the epicormic growth managed. In general, Limes are long-lived trees and there is little evidence to suggest the previous works to the trees have been detrimental to the tree health and vitality. 'The objection received relates mostly to the ongoing court action between no.7 and 11 Provost Road. The court action is a separate legal matter that does not form part of the assessment when determining the notification on whether these trees were worthy of a TPO.' It concluded: 'It was considered expedient in the interests of amenity to make the TPO in order to protect these 10 lime trees. It is recommended that this TPO be confirmed without modifications.' The committee agreed to confirm the TPO with question or comment.
Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian lime trees in historic street saved from the chop
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A row of lime trees in a historic West Lothian street have been protected by a Tree Preservation Order in a dispute of demand for felling. West Lothian Council's Development Management Committee was asked to decide on whether to support the TPO that was imposed in March. Without councillors backing the TPO would have lapsed in September which could have seen up to six of a line of 10 lime trees in Provost Road, Linlithgow, fall to the axe. READ MORE: West Lothian disabled veterans facing eviction 'must be offered new homes' A planning officer told the DMC: 'The site is located within the Linlithgow Palace & High Street Conservation Area, and as such, all proposed tree works within this area, first requires notification to be submitted to the council.' A tree works consent notification for the felling of six lime trees at 7 Provost Road, Linlithgow was received on the 13th February 2025. The notification was for the removal of the six trees in settlement of a legal action. A report to the DMC added: 'During assessment of the notification, a visual assessment of the trees was undertaken along with a Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders (TEMPO) assessment. The TEMPO assessment was completed by the council's Arborist and it was determined that the trees subject to the notification, and an additional four others, were found to 'Definitely merit TPO', this was further supported by the visual assessment carried out. 'As a result of this, Tree Preservation Order (No. 1) 2025, 7 Provost Road, Linlithgow was made on the 27th March 2025. The order covers ten Common Limes which form part of a lime tree feature, at the heart of east Linlithgow's historic centre, requiring to be protected due to amenity and contribution to local landscape, which adds to the wooded character and setting of local paths, roads and public realm.' Legal action is ongoing and a separate issue to the confirmation of the TPO, the committee heard. Councillors heard there was one objection to the TPO from a neighbour who claimed that the trees were damaging property. The owners of the trees had applied to the council for a felling licence which prompted the move to the TPO. Councillors heard that the trees were in good condition 'were safe, and in good health despite previous pollard, and without major defect.' The report added: 'The avenue of limes at the site, is a landscape feature of the local neighbourhood, and forms part of the wooded character of this part of Linlithgow. The trees are highly visible from local footpaths, and roads as they take advantage of the rising gradient. 'The lime trees have been previously pollarded and crown lifted, with the epicormic growth managed. In general, Limes are long-lived trees and there is little evidence to suggest the previous works to the trees have been detrimental to the tree health and vitality. 'The objection received relates mostly to the ongoing court action between no.7 and 11 Provost Road. The court action is a separate legal matter that does not form part of the assessment when determining the notification on whether these trees were worthy of a TPO.' It concluded: 'It was considered expedient in the interests of amenity to make the TPO in order to protect these 10 lime trees. It is recommended that this TPO be confirmed without modifications.' The committee agreed to confirm the TPO with question or comment.
Malaysian Reserve
22-04-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
We protect ancient buildings. Trees need the same
THE offences you'd most expect at a Toby Carvery, a budget British chain restaurant, would be those against food. Bad reviews from the past six months highlight poor service, dry meat and lumpy gravy. But one of its sites in Enfield, north London, recently became the scene of a crime against nature. The owners of the eatery, Mitchells & Butlers, admitted to felling an ancient oak tree on the edge of Whitewebbs Park earlier this month. Enfield Council, which owns the land the tree stood on, referred the case to the Metropolitan Police, but the lack of a Tree Preservation Order on this ecological wonder makes it a civil, rather than criminal, matter. An order has now been placed on the remaining stump in the hope it will recover, and council leader Ergin Erbil said it will 'take appropriate legal action' against the company for breaking the terms of the lease. About 18 months on from the tragedy at Sycamore Gap, when a beloved sycamore in Northumberland was crudely cut down in what police described a deliberate act of vandalism, the loss of yet another irreplaceable tree is a wakeup call to a critical gap in nature's legal protections. Though not as visually iconic as that lonely sycamore on Hadrian's Wall, the old oak assassinated this month was far more ecologically valuable. With a girth of more than 6m, the tree was estimated to be between 450 and 500 years old — just halfway through its potential lifespan. Mitchells & Butlers said the tree had been assessed as dying by private contractors and was therefore a risk to the public. But pictures on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Inventory, a database kept by the charity, show healthy spring foliage emerging during pollarding. The dead stems could have been pruned without harming the tree, but instead the contractors opted for the nuclear option: Removing everything. Mitchells & Butlers CEO Phil Urban wrote to residents last week apologising for the upset and saying the company needed to tighten its protocols. Somewhere in this series of events, the oak become victim to a lack of knowledge and due care. A tree's value increases as it ages — and those 'dying' bits are key. An ancient tree is one in the third or final stage of its life, an era that can last for centuries. Like humans, trees become more wrinkled and characterful with age. Cavities form, parts decay and the bark becomes rougher and more creviced while the trunk grows wider and the crown gets smaller. This decrepitude creates unique habitats for mosses, fungi, birds and mammals. An ancient oak like the unfortunate specimen next to the Toby Carvery is estimated to support upwards of 2,300 different species with food and shelter; younger trees simply can't match that. There's also the benefit of the carbon locked away in these trees' monumental bodies and root systems, as well as their spiritual and cultural worth. The felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap prompted an outpouring of grief and anger, as people recounted the sycamore's presence at meaningful life events; the flurry of one-star Google reviews for the Toby Carvery proves that the loss of this tree is also being mourned. Woodland Trust head of campaigning Adam Cormack noted that the tree may have overheard Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators plotting to blow up the House of Lords in 1605, as the original Whitewebbs house was used as a safe house for the group. For something to thrive amid a backdrop of centuries of war and riots, crashes and booms, but not survive an encounter with an overzealous tree surgeon is particularly devastating. A recent report from The Tree Council charity and research agency Forest Research highlights 'significant legal gaps' in the protection of England's most important trees. A 600-year-old oak was felled in 2022 near Peterborough. In 2023, 16 ancient lime trees were cut down to make way for a dual carriageway. A High Court judge later ruled that this shouldn't have happened. While a tree preservation order would have provided legal protection, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-funded review found that these orders tend to be placed reactively, when a tree is under a direct threat. That's no good in a situation like this, where the borough council was blindsided. There's a clear valuation gap between natural and human heritage. As lawyer Paul Powlesland wrote in the Evening Standard: 'A building the same age as the Whitewebbs Oak would ver y likely have been listed, with significant penalties for damaging or destroying it.' It's time to change that. The Tree Council/Forest Research report makes several recommendations, including enhancing data on important trees, improving their legal protection and providing training to tree owners and arborists so they know better how to manage these natural assets. The Labour government has been ripping up environmental protections to show bats and newts won't be allowed to get in the way of growth. While existing rules stipulate that developers must create new habitats for those lost, the government should recognise that there is no appropriate remediation for the loss of centuries-old trees. We protect them — or lose them, forever. The government could take inspiration from the likes of Italy, Portugal, Poland and New Zealand, all of which have official mechanisms to recognise and protect their important trees. In all these countries, anyone, including members of the public, can recommend a tree for protection. That's a fabulous way to make people feel connected to their communities — and the landscape. — Bloomberg This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.. This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Ancient oak tree felled in north London park
An ancient oak tree thought to be more than 400 years old has been cut down in what has been called a "depressing" and "devastating" crime in north London. The remains of the trunk, surrounded by its severed branches, were discovered by council workers on 3 April in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield. Adam Cormack, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust, which supports legal protections for the country's oldest and most important trees, said: "This depressing crime is a reminder to all of us that not every ancient tree is in a safe place. "It is very unusual to see the felling of an oak tree of this size and age." The tree, which had a girth of 6.1 metres, was thought to be in the top 100 of 600,000 oak trees in terms of its size. The incident has been reported to the and the council has put an emergency preservation order in place on the base of the stump. Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield Council, said: "We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police. "We've now placed a legal protection (Tree Preservation Order) on the tree and are looking at ways to help it grow back." On Monday, the Tree Council and Forest Research published a report calling for a "robust and effective system" to protect England's most important trees following the in September 2023. The trial of the two men, charged in connection with the felling, is due to take place later this month at Newcastle Crown Court. Read more from Sky News: Ed Allnut, Enfield resident and secretary of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group said: "The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage. I am personally devastated. "We want answers, and we want guarantees the other trees here are being protected properly." Oak trees are valuable for UK wildlife, supporting thousands of species as well as capturing carbon from the atmosphere.
