Update on the TPO

Apologies to regular readers who have been logging on in search of an update.  Monday's meeting was an odd experience which we've been mulling over and checking out a few facts.  Anyway, here's what happened.

First of all, the owners made it quite clear that they do not want to chop down the trees.  Let's repeat that one just so there's no mistake.  The owners do not want to chop down the trees.  Nor do we.  Neither does the Tree Officer.  Given that nobody wants to lose the trees, what, as one councillor put it, where we all there for?

The reason is this.  The owners believe that a Tree Preservation Order is unnecessary because the trees are protected by planning permission.  Putting it another way, the planning permission is contingent on the trees remaining and therefore a TPO is, according to them, not required.  That's why they have appealed against the order.  This is where it seemed (to us at any rate) somewhat surreal.  What difference will it make if the TPO is not lifted?  If they want the trees to remain, what's the problem with a TPO being in place?

However, we need to remember that the owners are trying to sell the property as a development site with planning permission.  The owners agents are actively promoting the sale using information provided by SBC to the effect that planning permission might be extended to nine properties.  If that happens, and there is no TPO in force, the trees will no longer be protected (our assumption).  However, this point was not explored at any length during the meeting.  The Tree Officer did, however, argue strongly in favour of retaining the order to ensure that the trees were protected in any eventuality.

One point that did emerge was that ownership of some of the trees on the northern boundary of the site is unclear.  After considerable deliberation, the panel decided to postpone their decision until ownership has been established.

So there you have it.  Or not, as the case might be.   The saga is obviously going to go on for some time yet.  As ever, we'll keep you up-to-date as and when we hear anything.

IMPORTANT NEWS

Regular readers of The Blog will be aware that the owners of the pub are now trying to sell it as a development site with planning permission and have placed the sale with an estate agent.

We have now learnt that they are having difficulty in selling the property because, or so they claim, of the tree preservation order which was instigated by the Arborculturist at SBC.  The owners have now appealed against the order and are trying to get it lifted.  The appeal is to be heard on Monday.  If it is allowed, it means they can cut down the trees.

It was bad enough losing the pub, focal point of Rough Close.  Now these people are once again trying to spoil the appearance of our local area by chopping down the trees. 

We understand that members of the public are allowed to write in to object to the appeal and we encourage you to do so.

Send in your objection to the appeal by email to Denise Hill, dhill@staffordbc.gov.uk.  But you'll have to be quick.  The appeal is to be heard on Monday, 18th July.  Your objections will have to be there by first thing Monday morning.

We also understand that members of the public can attend the meeting which is to be held at the Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford.