THE planning committee of Bude-Stratton Town Council has objected to an application to fell a London plane tree within a conservation area.

At the meeting on Thursday, April 12, the committee was presented with plans to fell a London plane tree at Sanctuary, Diddies Road in Stratton, submitted by Ian Couch.

This tree, adjacent to the churchyard in Stratton, is within a conservation area, which was of the most concern to councillors on the committee.

Questioning the reasoning behind felling the tree, Cllr Tony Philp said: “It’s quite a mature tree, and it’s obviously been there a long number of years. It doesn’t appear to be damaged or dying.”

Cllr Lea Deely said: “Maybe we could give consent only if they plant another tree somewhere else, where it doesn’t cause a problem.”

Cllr Philp said that he was giving ‘a straight forward refusal’, and Cllr Lesley Moores said: “I recently read an article on the trees being cut down in Sheffield, and it showed just how important trees are to local wildlife. Planting a new tree after cutting down an existing tree is not the answer — trees are so, so important for wildlife.”

The committee resolved to object to the application, stating: “The town council objects as we believe this tree has high amenity value and to fell it would be detrimental to the conservation area.”

The final decision is expected to be made be made by Cornwall Council’s planning committee.