VILLAGE TREES SAVED FROM THE CHOP - DESPITE 'THREAT' TO SWIMMING POOL AND GLASSHOUSE

FIVE mature pine trees in a Grimsby-area village have been spared the chop.

The trees are located in the back garden at Treyarnon Lodge off Nicholson Road in Healing.

The householders sought consent to fell on the grounds that the trees have been damaged by winter storms and any falling branches would imperil a swimming pool and glasshouse.

In addition,  they dislike shadow being cast over the property at a certain time of day.

The application to fell replicates one made 11 years ago when it was refused by North East Lincolnshire Council, though the trees officer at the time indicated that trimming the branches to reduce canopy spread would be acceptable.

However, the current trees officer, Paul Chaplin, shares the view of his predecessor that the trees are important to the amenity of the street scene.

In refusing to grant consent, NELC has made this comment: "The trees officer does not support the implied claim that the storm damage makes the trees intrinsically dangerous to the extent that they should be removed.

"He says the canopies of the pine trees acted as they should in cushioning and dissipating the wind forces on the individual tree structures and the group as a whole.

"No evidence has been presented to suggest the trees are now unstable."

It concludes: "The trees officer  does not consider that the applicant has presented sufficient justification for the pine trees to be felled and considers the trees can be reasonably and adequately managed to maintain the trees in situ."