Dear Chester Supporters,

We hope that you are well and ready for a seasonal break if you are not already enjoying one! 

The good news is that Southend City Council have approved a Tree Preservation Order for Chester. The bad news is that this is temporary, so we could do with your help in ensuring that this is made permanent.

If you could send your comments to the Planning Team by 21st January 2026 that would be hugely appreciated. Please write by email to planningregistrationteam@southend.gov.uk or via letter to the Planning Registration Team, Planning and Building Control, Department for Environment and Place, Southend-on-Sea City Council, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6ER. (If you are unsure what to include, there is a sample email below - please feel free to use any or all of the points raised regarding the importance of this tree.)

The council will consider all comments before deciding whether to make the Order permanent, so it is really important that they hear people's voices on how much they value this significant tree.

Huge thanks.

As ever, we will keep you updated on any progress or news with Chester and please join @savechester.org to see the latest or to join the conversation. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a tree filled New Year!

With gratitude and love,

The Save Chester Team.

SAMPLE EMAIL - 

Dear Planning Registration Team,

I am writing to express my full support for the Provisional Tree Preservation Order (05/2025) served on the London Plane tree located adjacent to 7 Tylers Avenue.

I strongly request that the TPO be made permanent for the following reasons:

1. The tree has exceptional public amenity value.
• It is a mature, healthy London Plane forming a key component of the historic streetscape of Chichester Road and Tylers Avenue.
• The tree provides canopy cover in an area with very limited mature street trees, and contributes significantly to the visual character of the neighbourhood.

2. Environmental and climate benefits are substantial.

This single London Plane contributes to:
• Air quality improvement (especially important in an AQMA-adjacent area)
• Urban cooling in a heat-vulnerable district
• Stormwater attenuation, reducing local surface-water flood risk
• Biodiversity value, supporting multiple nesting and invertebrate species

These benefits cannot be replicated by sapling planting.

3. The tree predates and out values the new development.
• The developer’s consent was granted long after the tree had existed in situ for decades.
• Any design conflicts are therefore issues of design responsibility, not justification for removal.
• Planning policy (NPPF, local plan, BS 5837) is clear: mature trees of high amenity value should be retained and designed around, not sacrificed for convenience.

4. The community has clearly demonstrated strong support.
• Residents previously submitted objections to the proposed removal.
• Public engagement on this issue has been substantial and ongoing.
• The tree is a named, locally valued landmark (“Chester”).

5. No overriding justification for removal has been provided.
• There is no evidence of structural damage, heave, or safety concerns.
• Any conflict with adjacent approved development can be mitigated by design amendments, engineering solutions, or retained tree protection fencing as per BS 5837.

6. Premature removal would harm public trust

Protecting this long-established tree is essential to maintaining confidence that local planning decisions balance development needs with environmental responsibility.

For these reasons, I urge the Council to confirm the TPO and grant the tree permanent protected status.

Kind regards,