Source: City of Portsmouth
As a direct action to send a message to anyone who unlawfully removes protected trees in the city, Portsmouth City Council’s planning enforcement team have replaced two trees at the cost of the person responsible.
On 28 January 2022, the Council served a Tree Replacement Notice following the felling of two trees on Victoria Road North which were protected by a tree preservation order (TPO). This notice required the planting of two healthy trees in the same location of those that were felled.
Since the notice was not complied with, the Council has exercised its statutory powers to carry out the necessary tree replacements and have planted two Lime trees. The costs associated with these works will be recovered from the person responsible for the felling.
Councillor Hugh Mason Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & City Development said:
“Our priority is to protect our environment and amenity in the city. It is unlawful to destroy trees protected by a Tree Protection Order. I am pleased to see that direct action by our planning enforcement team was taken to send a clear message that the felling of protected trees is not acceptable.”
Portsmouth City Council planning enforcement team contracted Colas to prepare the groundworks and Gristwood and Toms Limited to replace the trees. This work has now been completed.
A TPO is a written order which makes it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage, or destroy a tree protected by the order without the Council’s permission. TPO’s are used to protect trees that have a significant visual impact on the environment.
Anyone wanting to fell a protected tree can only do so by seeking formal planning consent from the Local Planning Authority. There must be a strong case to do so, and replacement trees are usually sought as compensation.
For more information visit Portsmouth City Council’s Tree Works and Tree Preservation Orders webpage