1. When the originating application - 21/03673/F - was granted on 05 december 2022, it was granted subject to a number of pre-commencement conditions (see the attached Notice of decision). Notwithstanding this, it appears that the works have been completed before these conditions were discharged (see Planning Enforcement Reference 24/30099/CONSERV). This is in itself a breach of planning law which we ask that you now investigate as a new complaint.

2. Condition 2 of the Grant required that 'Prior to the commencement of development, a pre-commencement site meeting shall be held and attended by the developer's arboricultural consultant and the designated site foreman to discuss details of the working procedures; evidence of this meeting must be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. A schedule of visits shall be drawn up to ensure the Project arboriculturist is present during key stages of the development ... Copies of written site notes and/or reports detailing the results of site supervision and any necessary remedial works undertaken or required shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority'. Please provide copies of these documents, together with any associated documents created as a result.

3. Condition 3 stated that: 'Prior to the commencement of the development hereby approved, an Ecological Mitigation & Enhancement Strategy (EMES) shall be submitted to an approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.' Clearly this was not done because the EMES (which we note is dated 27 March 2024) has only just been submitted with this application and has still not been approved in writing . This too is a breach of planning law. 

4. Conditions 4 & 5 likewise were required to be approved in writing before the commencement of the development. Clearly, this too has not been done and is in breach of planning law.

5. Please provide a copy of the Method Statement referred to at Condition 4.

It is clear from the evidence we have seen that damage has been caused to nearby trees by the illegal installation of paths and a shed within their root protection zones. The illegal works also include, but are not limited to:

• Damage to the TPO trees along Penpole Lane where concrete paths have been formed in root zones and against tree trunks.
• Damage to the tree and hedge line alongside the clubhouse to the west. We anticipate that this may be an Important Hedgerow within the meaning of the Hedgerow Regulation 1997.
• The erecting of fences within a designated Town and Village Green.
• Erection of a further stand against Penpole Lane.

We find it hard to believe that the applicant's arboricultural consultant would have approved what has been done, but reserve our position until we see the evidence requested at point 2 above.

In light of this, we ask that one of the LPA's arboricultural officers urgently visits the site to examine the works and report their findings, including making recommendations on the actions required to try to make good or mitigate the damage caused as well as any continuing damage. Please confirm that you have put this in hand.

In the meantime, we reserve our position on this application until we have seen the evidence requested and request that it is not decided until these issues have been addressed and the information we have requested has been provided and published on the planning portal.

Please publish this email on the planning portal for this application in the meantime.