Council and democracy

Tree preservation defiance lumbers Webb Estate resident with hefty fine and costs

Mr Nisaral Haq, a resident of Birch Lane on the Webb Estate, was ordered to pay the full sum within seven days of appearing before Croydon Magistrates on 13 June.

He was found guilty of contravening the provision of a tree preservation order (TPO) made under the Town and Country Planning Act.

Following a complaint from a neighbour last September, Croydon Council tree preservation officers found that a large atlas cedar tree at the front of Mr Haq's home had been very heavily and poorly pruned. In court the council stated that the works carried out were far in excess to the formative pruning that had been approved in 2004.

Said cabinet member for planning, Councillor Jason Perry: "It is very pleasing that the court upheld the council's concern about this flagrant breach of a tree preservation order. The scale of the fine shows how seriously the magistrates regarded the offence, which has had a major impact on the amenity of the area.

"Officers reported that there was no evidence that the tree was dead, dying or dangerous and that the work commissioned by Mr Haq showed no evidence of conforming with industry good practice. The cedar was left in such a poor condition that it will never recover and this will be a desperately sad loss to the amenity of the Webb Estate Conservation Area.”

Croydon has a great many trees protected by nearly 1,700 preservation orders. The purpose is to ensure that the green canopy that provides so much of the borough's visual appeal is not depleted.

Applications for pruning preserved trees are considered by the council and invariably permission is given for appropriate works. 

Anybody wishing to find out whether a tree is protected or seeking information about getting protection for a tree should contact the planning and transportation department on 020 8726 6800 or email planning.control@croydon.gov.uk. Anyone who is concerned that a TPO is being breached should contact the council at the earliest opportunity on the same number.