WARRINGTON Borough Council’s planning committee will meet a second time tomorrow (Wednesday) to consider the fate of a single Silver Birch tree.
The committee deferred a decision on the first occasion because local councillors were unable to attend to make representations about the tree, which is in the garden of a house in Druridge Drive, Penketh.
Councillor had been asked to decide whether or not to confirm a tree preservation
order (TPO) on the tree, which was said to be causing structural damage
to the foundations of a nearby garage.
Originally, the council
granted permission for the tree to be felled, subject to a replacement
being planted. But a few days later, after additional information became
available, officers slapped another, temporary, preservation order on the
tree.
The owner lodged an objection to the temporary order and
submitted aboricultural and structural reports indicating the tree was
suffering from reduced vigour as a result of the hard surfaces
surrounding it and that the garage was suffering distortion and damage
caused by the tree. Both reports recommended the tree be removed.
Then
the council’s own tree advisor and building control manager inspected
the tree and the garage and recommended the tree be removed, as it did
not have sufficient amenity value to justify confirming the temporary
TPO.
Officers recommended the order be withdrawn, allowing the tree
to be felled. But councillors decided they wanted more information and
deferred the matter until tomorrow.
