No risk to much-loved Oban town woodland
Campaigners wanting the council to update a tree preservation order on Oban’s former county hospital site are disappointed but not giving up.
Argyll and Bute Council told green campaigners it does not consider a tree preservation order (TPO) is warranted at this time because there is “no perceived risk or threat” to the trees from being felled or badly pruned.
The area covering Benvoullin is a much-loved woodland between Atlantis Leisure Centre and Longsdale and campaigners, who waited three months to get the response, are asking the council to re-consider their plea.
Laura Corbe, who is a member of
Keep Oban Beautiful and a community councillor for the town, said campaigners were not entirely certain what Argyll and Bute meant about not considering the area warranted a TPO “at this time” because there was already one in place.
She also wanted to know how the council came to consider that there was “no perceived risk”.
Since the original 1999 TPO, permission has been granted for 14 homes and that has resulted in significant loss of trees, claims the group. Permission for one house in 2017 went against planners’ recommendation and ended up with the felling of at least 12 trees despite the spot frequently being used by walkers and wildlife enthusiasts and home to several protected such as red squirrels. it being species,
Bats, pinemartens, owls, mosses, ferns, lichens and liverworts, bluebells and a rare fungus native to the Atlantic rainforest are just some of the woodland’s other inhabitants.
Campaigners say that the importance of maintaining what is left of remnant natural habitats cannot be overstated.
In an email from the council, campaigners were also told protecting or disturbing red squirrels was legislation under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and “is not embedded with the TPO legislation”.
And the council response also said its planning department does take account of existing trees if they are declared on a planning application form by requiring more details about them and then “if deemed necessary” making a Tree Management Plan a condition.
Despite campaigners getting the official response on Tuesday March 14, a spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council told the Oban Times six days later on Monday March 20 that “no decision had been made yet”.
Ms Corbe said the current situation was “clear as mud” but hoped it meant the matter was still being considered.