I asked the AO to make a very careful consideration of this Application. It is a front garden tree in a Conservation Area and is thus significant. It is the wrong time if year for judging its health by looking at the volume of leaves it might bear. Part of the Reason for Felling is that it is in poor health with a low leaf volume. There is also an allegation of causing subsidence made in this application, yet no evidence has been provided, or if it has, it has not been published, to demonstrate that the tree might be causing subsidence. This allegation reminded me to look at the Joint Mitigation Protocol (JMP), which I believe has been adopted by BCC as the LPA when considering such allegations/claims. This was with particular regard to the last sentence “building insurers and their agents have agreed that remedial pruning may be considered as an option rather than always asking for tree removal.” And I think that is only applied when the tree has been shown to be the cause of subsidence, which is the suggestion here but without published evidence to support it. The JMP. “Its principal aims are to speed up the process of claims handling, decision making and mitigation implementation leading to resolution, while at the same time recognising the value of trees in the built environment and providing local authorities with all the investigative evidence required at the beginning of the process. A timely decision may then be made on what course of action is appropriate in respect of the tree. It represents a considerable achievement, as for the first time, building insurers and their agents have agreed that remedial pruning may be considered as an option rather than always asking for tree removal.”

Position : Objects   Comment Submitted

Streetview photo from AUg 2020 added to tree entry. Looks pretty healthy as a Robinia

Weak argument : no support for the claim of causing subsidence next door; root looks normal for the species; otherwise just the normal consequences of having a tree which could be ameliorated by pruning.

Position : Objects  

Applcation : I believe the Tree is a Pseudo Acacia and I would estimate over 40 feet in height. It does not appear to be in a healthy condition with poor leaf growth and sections that appear to be rotting. We have experienced a hazard from branch sections falling off in high winds. My neighbour has informed me that this tree was fully cut down about 40 years ago but has since grown back from the stump. It is causing several issues for us - the roots are damaging the foundations of our next door neighbour's property, 2 Goldney Avenue; we have experienced squirrel infestation due to the squirrels accessing our roof via this tree and the leaf fall being so close to the house does give us issues with blocked gutters. We would therefore like to cut down and remove this tree ('Tree 1' as marked in the sketch). It will also allow the smaller tree next door currently partly in it's shade to flourish

Tree in question added

Link https://bristoltrees.space/Tree/tree/BTF-CW-141