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| Reprieved- the threatened Great Coates trees |
A TOTAL of 11 threatened pine trees in a Grimsby-area village have been saved from the chop.
An independent planning inspector has backed the decision of North East Lindsey Council in refusing consent for felling of a group of trees on Station Road within the Great Coates conservation area.
Ian Radcliffe, of the Planning Inspectorate, has come down in favour of the authority following an appeal by the householder at 94 Station Road who applied for the trees to come down.
Says Mr Radcliffe's report: "The statutory test in relation to conservation areas is that special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the area.
"Great Coates conservation area is characterised by brick-built houses with slate or clay tiled roofs in a verdant setting.
"Green open spaces and mature trees are an important part of its character.
"The pines in both appeals are tall mature trees with a columnar form.
"With the exception of one, which is showing signs of decline in its upper canopy, the trees are vigorous and appear to be in good health and structurally sound, with little, if any, deadwood apparent.
"They form an important landscape feature in public views from Station Road and Ferndale to the rear that contributes to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
"This group of trees is therefore of very high amenity value."
The inspector's report continues: "Any replacements for the felled trees would take many years to grow large enough to begin to compensate for the adverse effects caused to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
"Any reasons to justify removal of the trees needs to be compelling.
"It is stated that this results in problems with moss in the lawn and prevents the occupiers of No 94 from being able to enjoy the back garden.
"Protected trees, though, should not be felled merely for these reasons.
"It was clear from my site visit that the rear lawn is well cared for and largely clear of moss. This indicates that it receives adequate levels of sunlight.
"It is clear from the submitted photographs that the trees do not block out the sun completely over the garden.
"Instead, they create an attractive dappled effect of sunlight and shade which adds to the amenity value of the trees and which in the hotter summer months provides protection from the sun.
"During cooler, sunny weather the trees will limit warmth from the sun in the garden. However, this is to be expected where trees provide shade and does not result in material harm to the amenity value of the garden.
"The appellant states that bird droppings, sap and pine cones falling from the trees prevents use of the driveway for car parking.
"Bird droppings, falling sap and the shedding of seeds and cones is a normal and expected feature of trees.
"I saw little evidence of significant bird droppings on the drive, or on the lawn beneath the trees, and falling sap is seasonal. Moreover, both can be removed by washing.
"No evidence has been provided that fallen pine cones have damaged vehicles. I therefore attach minimal weight to this matter in support of felling.
Mr Radcliffe goes on: "It seems to me that people living in a pleasant and attractive area with large trees must accept that those trees are an integral part of that environment.
"If this is not the case, and the trees that people object to are felled due to the litter that falls from them, the result will be a gradual erosion of the quality of the character and appearance of such areas."
The Grimsby News says: The planning inspector has made the right decision. If he had found in favour of the appellant, a dangerous precedent would have been set. No tree within an urban setting would have been safe. Plaudits, also, to North East Lincolnshire Council trees officer Paul Chaplin whose original decision to refuse felling consent has been vindicated fully.
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