Issue - meetings

REFUSED

Description of application—proposed felling of an oak tree in connection with a subsidence investigation at 70 Maberley Road.

Oral representations in objection to the application were received at the meeting. 

Oral representations in objection from a visiting ward member were also received at the meeting.

Comments from the Tree Officer were received.

It was reported that further objections to the application had been received.

Oral representations from Ward Councillor Angela Wilkins in objection to the application were received. Councillor Wilkins stated that she shared the concern of local residents that this was a tree that was 160 years old, and that the only reason that the application was being made, was by insurers for financial reasons. She reminded Members that this tree was the beneficiary of a tree preservation order that had been granted by the Council. If Members agreed to fell the tree, then they would be going against their previous decision to save the tree. She felt that the report was imbalanced and did not refer to the possibility of legal challenge. She asked that the application be refused, or at the least, be deferred, and that the Council should stick by its previous decision to save the tree that was made in 2019.

Councillor Harris suggested that the application be deferred to allow time for an independent assessment of costs to occur.

Councillor Bance supported the refusal of the application, noting that the tree bordered a conservation area, and provided relief to local residents from noise and pollution.

Councillor Boughey was in favour of deferring the application to seek an independent assessment of costs.

Councillor Bance moved that the application be refused, and this was seconded by Councillor Tony Owen.

RESOLVED that the application for Tree Works be refused for the following reason:

1. The application negates the objectives of the TPO and conflicts with Policies 73 and 74 of the Bromley Local Plan (adopted January 2019) and Policy G7 of the London Plan (adopted March 2021).