‘NUISANCE’ TREES CUT DOWN – EVEN IF THEY’RE HEALTHY
Council says requests are subject to conditions
‘HEALTHY and safe’ trees are being chopped down or pruned – as neighbours take advantage of a controversial new council initiative.
A Sentinel investigation shows Stoke-on-trent City Council’s ‘tree variation scheme’ has been used 12 times since March 2020.
The council has received £11,818.40 to fell eight trees and prune four others. It has planted 18 new trees in response to the work.
The scheme allows for trees to be removed from outside properties if they are deemed a ‘nuisance’. One in Trentham was felled because it was ‘causing mess in gardens’.
A council expert visually assesses each tree, supported by a consultation involving the ward councillor. More than half the people living within 100m of the tree must also agree to the work before it is carried out.
Planning permission is still required for any tree subject to a preservation order or in a conservation area.
But one tree surgeon wants the scheme suspended.
He said: “The council says people are telling them these trees are a nuisance and causing them stress.
“Well what about my stress? And that of the people that want to keep the trees.
“I’m not saying never cut any trees down, but surely there must be a transparent policy. It needs to be joined-up thinking between highways and planning and properly reviewed in a suitably democratic way.
“It can’t be the decision of a grounds maintenance manager whose budget doesn’t add up.”
A council spokesman said requests are considered individually against ‘a rigid set of specific conditions’. He added: “Approval for work carried out is only granted if all these conditions are met.”