Plea to protect Dorset's trees from developers
One councillor wants to see more orders preventing felling before planning's approved
There's a plea for Dorset Council to do more to prevent mature trees from being felled by developers, ahead of planning consent.
Lytchett Matravers member Alex Brenton has asked whether more Tree Protection Orders (TPO) could be implemented to help protect older trees:
“In my ward, we seem to have a many cases of the felling of mature trees on possible development sites before planning is agreed, on the principle that if they do not have a Tree Preservation Order the owner can do what they like. I would not be surprised to hear that happens elsewhere.
“Could a blanket temporary TPO be put on all trees on a site as soon as any Planning Application is registered to prevent trees ‘disappearing’ before planning conditions can be agreed. This can then be assessed by Tree Officers as to whether that should be permanent?”
Cllr Brenton told a Council meeting that it can take 15 to 20 years for a newly planted tree to capture as much carbon as a mature one, so it would be better for tackling climate change to keep older trees in place.
There's also been a surge in applications to Dorset Council in recent years, to fell or prune thousands of mature trees - many because of the spread of diseases affecting Ash trees and other species.
In response, planning portfolio holder Cllr David Walsh said the orders are usually made where the tree had ‘amenity value’, adding to the appearance of the local area:
“Whilst biodiversity and climate change can be taken into consideration, these alone are not grounds for making a TPO. Trees within conservation areas are also protected under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
“Under current legislation, local authorities can only make a TPO if it appears to them to be ‘expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their area’. Orders are provisional until confirmed 6 months after they come into effect, but should only be issued where it is considered necessary to do so. Therefore, it is not possible to issue blanket TPOs as a default position as each tree or group of trees need to be assessed."
He also added that 'biodiversity net gain' is due to become a legal requirement for new planning applications from 2023, which should help retain existing trees.