Hugh and Judith Pratt have appealed against the City Council’s refusal to allow them to fell the mature ash tree on Guinea Street. They have made three attempts to obtain planning permission to remove the tree, which is now protected by a Tree Preservation Order:
- 13/02205/VC June 2013 The application to fell the ash tree was refused. The refusal noted ‘No reasons have been given for the removal of the tree although more information was solicited.’ The refusal also noted: ‘The wall is in very poor repair along its length, including near the tree, but there is no indication that the tree is a primary agent of the damage, as the level of damage is similar along the entire length of the wall, including up to 15 metres away which is well out of the influencing distance of the tree.’
- 23/00620/VP April 2023. Notwithstanding the comment on the 2013 application, the second application to fell the tree was based on the condition of the boundary wall. The application was refused: ‘The tree trunk is not pushing up against the brick wall, and it is clear that the wall has fallen into disrepair.’
- 24/00076/VP March 2024. This third application to fell the tree was based on the presence of Ash Dieback disease confirmed by a report by Silverback Arboricultural Consultancy. There are good reasons to question the Silverback conclusions. They were based on a site visit in June 2022 but submitted in January 2024. And their conclusions were partly based on the fact they were informed (presumably by the Pratts) that ‘the foliage of the tree was sparse last year’. The foliage on this tree has never been sparse. The application was refused. The refusal concluded: ‘little evidence is presented that the tree does in fact have ash dieback disease. While some deadwood and epicormic growth and canopy sparseness is mentioned, this could be due to any form of stress.’
Redcliffe West Residents Association commissioned a second report on the state of the tree by Bartlett Tree Expert Company, which found that the tree was in good health. Our featured image of the tree was taken on 31st July 2024. This is the Bartlett report.
The Pratts have opted for a ‘fast-track’ appeal, which means that no additional comments can be made. The Inspectorate will take into consideration all comments made on their last application, 24/00076/VP. These objections included concern about the validity of Silverback’s assessment. The choice of fast-track appeal may also mean that Hugh Pratt is keen to progress his aim to make money by developing the cutting on which the tree stands.
The threat to the ash tree has attracted media attention.