Surrey Heath Borough Council must honour their environmental and climate commitments and protect one of the 150-year old trees on Wellingtonia Avenue from nearby excavation work.

What are we asking SHBC to do ?

A NEW Arboricultural Impact Assessment must be carried out for planning application 21/0314/FFU at Ravenstone Road, Camberley, adjacent to the Wellingtonia Avenue. An Arboricultural Consultant with sufficient experience and qualification is needed to properly assess and supervise the impact of the works on the redwood tree and the council should visit the site to fully validate the measurements and calculations in the new assessment before any construction work starts.

Background

The original impact assessment had the tree T1 incorrectly plotted further away from the development on the tree plan, and incorrect measurements were submitted. This was not sufficiently investigated by the council during Neighbourhood Consultation despite objections highlighting a problem. SHBC have acknowledged that an amendment should have been sought in relation to the proposed tree location, after a formal complaint was made, but have chosen to do nothing about it.

The planning application was refused by SHBC, but permission was subsequently granted on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. SHBC had not made the Planning Inspectorate aware of the inaccurate tree information.

The following recording of the tree was taken during windy conditions in May 2021 and shows just how essential it is for the Root Protection Area to be correctly measured and considered, to protect the tree and ensure the safety of all those living in the vicinity:

https://imgur.com/gallery/ZzlzebM

It is essential that the root protection area is correctly measured and considered. This must be addressed now before it becomes a problem later. Please sign to help ensure the tree is properly assessed and protected during excavation works. I will deliver the petition to SHBC in March 2022.

More Information

To view the planning application Surrey Heath Planning site, for more information, search for application 21/0314/FFU

https://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/residents/planning/planning-applications