A BUDE resident has been told by the Planning Inspectorate she may fell two sycamore trees at her property in Lea Way, Bude, following an appeal lodged against North Cornwall District Council's refusal to grant consent earlier in the year. However, the council's decision was upheld regarding a third tree.

Mrs M E Wilkinson appealed against the decision made by the council ion March. An Inspecting Officer visited the site on July 22 and a report was submitted to the Secretary of State.

The Planning Inspec­torate report stated that all the appeal trees form part of the wooded copse, an important landscape feature.

'LIMITED VALUE'

However, two of the appeal trees have limited public amenity value while the third tree is prominent and makes an important contribution to the amenity of the area. The Secretary of State said that the proposed felling should not be permitted unless there are clear and convincing reasons to do so.

The Inspecting Officer found that all trees were healthy, showed no risk of failure and there was no evidence to suggest the trees posed any risk to the fabric of the property.

The Secretary of State accepted that the trees shaded the southern and western sides of the property, but agreed with the Inspecting Officer that the conservatory was built knowing that light levels would be reduced and that this alone would not justify the felling of the trees.

However, it was accepted that two of the trees are restricting the future growth of the adjacent trees and their felling, in this instance, would be justified.

The Secretary of Stet was therefore persuaded that the trees' removal would be justified, but subject to replacement planting to restore continuity of tree cover.

'DETRIMENTAL'

It was agreed that the third tree does not cause unreasonable shading to the property or conservatory. They added that the tree's removal would be detrimental to public amenity.

Mrs Wilkinson's appeal in respect of this sycamore tree was dismissed, but the Secretary of State allowed part of the appeal and granted consent for the felling of the two other sycamore trees.

This consent was subject to the conditions that two replacement trees, of a size and species and in a position to be agreed in writing with the local planning authority, shall be planted within 12 months of the date of the felling of the appeal trees; and if the replacement trees are destroyed, die or are removed within two years of the date of planting, trees of the same size and species shall be planted at the same place during the next available planting season unless the local planning authority gives their written consent to any variation.

It is also required that the work shall be implemented within two years.