On the 22nd June 2023, Hugh Pratt felled five healthy ash trees on the bank of the Avon New Cut along Commercial Road, four months after he had applied for planning permission to fell the trees on 13th February 2023. If the Local Planning Authority (LPA) fails to take a decision within six weeks, ‘deemed consent’ is presumed. As a result, the Planning Enforcement team inform us that ‘there is no action for the LPA to take in regard to the tree removal’. Hugh Pratt gave no reason for felling the trees. And no explanation has been given by the LPA for its failure to have taken a decision within the six-week period.
