Appointment with the chainsaw beckons for one of Cleethorpes' most graceful trees - or does it?

                                                               

A 'landmark' tree - the sycamore is located in the garden of 4 Queens Parade but some of its branches overhang the car park of The Waterfront apartment block behind 

THE future for a 'landmark' tree off Cleethorpes seafront could suddenly become a whole lot uglier.

The 70-year-old sycamore, in the garden of a house behind The Waterfront apartment block, is both in magnificent condition and in magnificent shape. 

As well as being of intrinsic beauty, it attracts songbirds - robins, goldfinches, blue tits and other species.

But it is the activities of these same birds that have caused a problem..

Some residents at The Waterfront are so resentful of droppings landing on the tops of their parked cars that they have demanded that  overhanging branches are removed even though this would inevitably put the tree at risk of becoming damaged and misshapen.

The demand has dismayed Katie Teakle, of  neighbouring 4 Queens Parade, who has a stake in the matter - she is the proud owner of the tree . 

Says she:  "The magnificent shape of the tree is what gives it its exceptional beauty.

"What is more it has been here since many decades before The Waterfront was built. It is habitat for many species of bird. 

"This sycamore does not need to be butchered - it is a landmark tree, appreciated and admired by residents and visitors alike.

"Only two parking spaces are affected. Why could they not be relocated elsewhere on the site?" 

Ms Teakle is so anxious to protect the health and shape  of the tree that she has offered to part-pay for the cost of car port which would shelter the car tops from droppings.

But from accepting her effort to find a compromise,  The Waterfront Residents' Association has not only rejected her proposal but it has also engaged the services of a Grimsby tree surgeon  who is due on site  on November 11.

Given that the sycamore  and its integrity are covered by a tree  preservation order, could North East Lincolnshire Council come to its rescue? 

Possibly yes.

There is likely to be  a meeting among officers next week to determine whether lopping can proceed as requested by the Waterfront residents or whether Ms Teakle's arguments should prevail.

If they are uncertain how to determine the application, they have the option to defer it until the next NELC planning committee on November 27 when councillors will decide.

Gated entrance to The Waterfront carpark

A smattering of white  - the car most affected by the birds' droppings