Whitehouse Woods’ trees to get the chop
The owner of the Whitehouse Woods site in Lamlash has received planning permission to cut back some of the trees in the area covered by a Tree Preservation Order.
Following a request by the roads authority seeking to make the trees – which overhang the A841 in Lamlash – comply with legislation, site owner Iain Thomson submitted the application which was approved, but subjected to a reduction in scope.
Consent was sought to undertake treeworks involving: crown lifting of a large beech tree to provide clearance of 5.1m above the public road and 2.5m above the associated footway; the removal of a dead tree; and the removal of seven smaller self-seeded trees around the perimeter of the grounds.
The application was considered by planning officials with advice from an arboricultural officer owing to the area being covered by the Tree Preservation Order, which was designated in December 2002 and which relates to an area of approximately 5.01 ha of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland.
The original proposal included the removal of a significant mature beech tree as well as lopping of smaller trees and removal of a dead specimen. The application stated that the beech is over-mature and in danger of falling across the adjacent roadway.
Site visit
Following a site visit by the North Ayrshire Council arboriculture officer it was determined that there was no clear rationale for the request to remove the large beech tree which appears healthy with no die back, root lift, fungal decay, hung up limbs or split unions evident.
The deceased tree listed in the application was discovered to be alive but in poor condition with die back in the crown and major decay extending from a historic wound down the lower bole. The official advised that the tree should be removed to eliminate any risk associated with its poor condition and close proximity to the adjacent road.
The arboricultural officer found no objection to the small trees listed for lopping in the application and concurred that they should be cut back to prevent causing a minor disturbance to the footway.
The application was approved without the requirement for replanting as the removal of the smaller self-seeded trees ‘would still retain a significant number of trees around the perimeter of the site and so would not have a significant adverse effect on the overall visual amenity of the conservation area’.
The site was once the grounds of the Whitehouse Hotel which closed nearly 40 years ago.