<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/archives/392/our-housemar12" rel="attachment wp-att-393"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-393" title="Our-house(mar12)" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Our-housemar12.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>As it was coming up to 8 weeks since our planning application was submitted I decided to contact the planners at West Lindsey Council. I received a very helpful response:

"<em>I am waiting to finalise a comment from our tree officer but apart from that I am recommending the proposal for approval and hope to get everything finalised in the next couple of days</em>"

This sounded so positive that we nearly cracked open the champagne however we are aware of the travails of local government and decided to hold fire until we had absolute confirmation in writing. A week later, in fact on the very last day after which the planners would miss their target the tree officer raised some objections:

"<em>The trees around the edges of this land are protected by the Tree Preservation Order Market Rasen No.2 2000.</em>

<em>This report is dated 2007, so the size and condition of trees may have changed since then. British Standards guidance, BS5837 - Trees in relation to construction has changed since then as there is a new 2012 standard instead of the 2005 referred to in the report. </em>

<em>The root protection areas (RPA’s) are drawn on the proposed site layout plan and show that the dwellings are clear of the RPA’s, but the garage of plot 3 is within the RPA of one adjacent tree, and the access road runs across the RPA’s of many trees along the southerly boundary. It would be preferable if this dwelling and garage could be repositioned a bit further north to reduce the amount of encroachment within the RPA on its southerly side.</em>

<em>My main concern is the driveway shown across the RPA’s of the trees along the southerly boundary. Using traditional methods of excavations, hardcore and compaction I would not be in support of these proposals with the access drive across the RPA’s of these TPO trees. The driveway is possible using alternative methods by using a geotextile membrane over the ground surface and then a cellular confinement system on top. The individual cells are then filled with appropriate clean hardcore and a finished surface can then be laid on top or left with a gravel finish. A cellular confinement system avoids the need for excavations and spreads the load to minimise soil compaction and root damage. It also allows air and water to reach the roots below the cellular confinement system. Some of these trees are in poor condition and the report recommends removing four trees, but this would still leave several trees with the proposed driveway across their RPA’s.</em>

<em>Also of some concern is the affects to the ash tree (A1 ash, in TPO W1) to the north side of the site entrance. The pillars and driveway are within the ash RPA and would sever roots important for the trees survival. Ash are shallow rooting trees and do not like root disturbance which can lead to crown dieback and decline. This tree is described in the tree report as ‘fair’ with a remaining life expectancy of 10 years, and has been given a category rating of ‘C’ as described in the BS5837. Category C trees are of low quality and are unremarkable with very limited merit or have impaired condition or are in groups that offer low or transient landscape benefit. Due to the condition of the tree (according to the report) it may be more appropriate to remove this tree or carry out a crown reduction in preparation for root reductions if the development proposals gain permission. If this tree is removed, it would be preferable for a replacement tree to be planted.</em>"

This news after getting such a positive message from the planner was devastating and I went into a very dark place. Our architect has been very helpful and has agreed that we will do what is necessary to protect the roots under the drive and suggested that we remove the tree nearest our garage and replace it with another once the building work is complete. We are still waiting for a response.

The power of the tree officer far exceeds what is natural and whilst we wouldn't want to harm any of the trees on the site as they are a wonderul asset we don't want this to stop the project.