Planners clear way for 16 trees to be felled or cut back at Todmorden home

Sixteen trees can be felled at a Todmorden home, after planners decided not to make any of them subject to full-scale tree preservation orders (TPOs).

Although the trees in question were not subject to a Tree Preservation Order – which planners have to consider closely – their location meant planners had to consider making any of them subject to such an order.

Mr John Walker had applied to fell two trees, fell five conifers and five leylandii at the Lumbutts Road address.

He also wanted to reduce the height of two trees and cut back another.

The trees include a silver birch, a copper beech, an oak and a rowan, according to the planning documents.

The site is in a Conservation Area, and under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, council monitoring of what is classed as a Tree Conservation Area in required and anyone wanting to undertake the work has to submit a “notification of intent.”

“The trees have now been inspected, and I can confirm that it is not proposed to place a Preservation Order on the trees in this case.

“The consent of the council, as Local Planning Authority, will not therefore be required to undertake the works as specified,” said planners.

But they say it should be noted only the works in the submission can be undertaken and work be carried out to British Standards recommendations for tree work, and within two years from the date of the decision notice.

Further works, or a delay beyond that period, would require a new notification of intent to be submitted to Planning Services.

Other works would be unlawful, they stress, and planners also recommend the trees are surveyed for bats before work starts and relevant advice sought if necessary.