News / redcliffe
‘Healthy’ ash tree could be felled
Residents have commissioned their own report in a last-ditch attempt to save a much-loved tree.
Despite Bristol City Council refusing an application for the ash tree to be felled, an appeal has been lodged which could still mean the Planning Inspectorate grant permission for it to be chopped down.
Dozens of objections were made against the felling of the tree on Guinea Street in Redcliffe before the council refused the application, with a council officer noting that the tree “is of very high value in the local landscape being a dominant feature in its section of the street and visible from the harbourside”.
The ash tree – nicknamed Ashley – is a much-loved local landmark – photo: Martin Booth
The tree opposite the Golden Guinea pub is both protected by a tree preservation order and situated within a Conservation Area.
The council’s latest refusal for felling the tree was “due to the applicants not present(ing) sufficient evidence that the tree has ash dieback disease, nor have they demonstrated that, if it does have ash dieback disease, this means it is necessary to remove the tree”.
Ash dieback disease was cited in an arboricultural assessment by Chris Wright of Iron Acton-based Silverback Arboricultural Consultants – which was commissioned by the owners of the small corner plot of land on which the tree is located.
Wright wrote that “it is recommended that the ash tree is removed” saying that the presence of ash dieback disease in the tree “will compromise the structural integrity of the branches and main structure of the tree potentially resulting in catastrophic failure”.
Redcliffe West Residents Association commissioned another arboricultural consultant, Chris Watson of Bartlett Tree Experts, whose own report said that “overall, the ash tree remains in good health, with no signs of ash dieback”.
Watson said: “The tree still has minor dead branches within its crown that I attribute to being lost through natural processes and not through a decline in health.
“The tree contributes positively to the amenity of the local area and therefore should be retained.”
The tree sits on a currently unused corner plot of land – photo: Martin Booth
In their appeal to Bristol City Council, landowners Hugh and Judith Pratt of the Marchioness Building on Commercial Road said that through their arboricultural consultant, they did demonstrate “sufficient reason that the tree… should be removed”.
They have twice applied for permission to fell the tree after stating that it is damaging a nearby wall.
The ash tree overlooks the cutting of the former Redcliffe railway, in which Hugh Pratt has previously wanted to built 44 residential units.
When asked via WhatsApp if the reason for wanting to fell the ash tree is to resurrect this housing scheme, Pratt said: “Tree has ash dieback and hangs over a public road. It is simply a public safety issue.”
A spokesperson for Redcliffe West Residents’ Association said that residents are “anxiously awaiting” the decision of the Planning Inspectorate.
Their statement said: “They are hoping that the Planning Inspector will come to the same conclusion as the council, but if the appeal is upheld and the tree is cut down, there is no going back and this healthy precious tree will have been irrevocably lost.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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