Landmark trees for the chop (From This Is Local London)

Landmark trees for the chop

8:22am Tuesday 8th November 2005

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A LANDMARK avenue of much-loved trees in Epping Forest is to be felled.

District councillors have given the go-ahead for the 25 poplars which form a tree-lined avenue at Torrells Chase, Willingale, to be removed, after hearing that nearby homes had suffered damage.

Councillors, while agreeing to the felling, said the trees were a feature in the area. Twenty small-leaved lime trees will be planted in their place.

Epping Forest Council planning officer Ralph Bintley told the area plans committee: "The essence of the case is that while it's more than accepted that the trees are of great amenity value there has been claims that they have caused damage to the properties and there's a chance further damage could be caused if they are left in situ."

Jeff Banks, objecting to the application, said it was council policy that a healthy tree would not be felled unless it was demonstrated there was a "serious ongoing risk". He said further risk of damage to properties could be managed by pruning and added there was only evidence that four of the 25 trees had caused a nuisance.

Consultant arboriculturalist Henry Girling, speaking for the applicant, said insurance claims relating to the trees and damage to properties had already totalled £125,000, with further claims pending.

He said four tree could be felled, but added: "This will destroy the cohesion of the whole avenue.

"Unless all are removed they will continue to grow into trouble. Rather than management by crisis it's better to fell and replace throughout."

Councillors had debated the issue in September but deferred a decision until they had seen the trees.

Councillor Maggie McEwen told the area plans committee she would still be "absolutely devastated" if they go, adding: "They are really a feature on this landscape." But she said four of eight houses were still vulnerable to the trees.

Councillor Di Collins said: "It's a shame because it will be a number of years before the (new) trees are of similar size. But these (existing) trees are growing at an enormous rate."

She said the replacement trees should be as large as possible when planted.

Councillor Derek Jacobs said felling was the "best practical solution" adding: "I accept it's been a quite substantial landmark but I think we were left with very little doubt that that (felling) was the obvious solution."

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