Comments on: Mrs Kesler Asks Cambridge City Council For Permission to Prune Her Apple Tree

By: Step

Step — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:02:33 +0000

This is indeed bureaucracy gone mad. There is a difference between pruning and felling. Pruning is part and parcel of good maintenance and management of the land. Without it fewer trees would survive long enough to need preserving. I think we need to regain a proper sense of perspective here.

By: Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:18:06 +0000

Another Newnham Apple tree pruning application has been submitted to Cambridge City Council.

T1 - Apple: reduce the length of four of the peripheral branches by not more than 10%

All this bureaucracy for 10% off four branches of an apple tree. This time the applicant is Dr P La Hausse of 57 Grantchester Street.

As I did with Mrs Kessler’s application, I have written to the council expressing my support for the state not interfering with Dr La Hausse’s apple growing. I added:

If these apple tree pruning applications are being submitted unnecessarily perhaps the council could improve the advice it gives applicants.

By: Dr John Wilkes

Dr John Wilkes — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:40:56 +0000

As one who works with Lib Dem Councillors as a volunteer, I certainly don’t agree with all their decisions, but I do know from day to day observation that they work hard for the public good as they honestly see it. I have not met any ‘arrogant’ Councillors. (Can we have names, please?) Councillors can hardly be ’secretive’ when their names, addresses, interests, policies and decisions are publicly available. They submit themselves to public judgement by standing for election and it is a fact that the three Newnham Liberal Democrat City Councillors have all been re-elected at least once.

Incidentally, I live in a conservation area. It is exasperating not to be able to take an axe to superannuated trees, but conservation areas are vital elements in keeping Cambridge the beautiful place it is.

By: Mike Curtis

Mike Curtis — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:30:24 +0000

Richard,

I agree with you that it is bureaucracy gone bananas and that the Lib Dems do seem to be intent on making Cambridge a place for their own ilk and to hell with the rest although it does look on the face of it that they can hide behind the law in this instance if one looks in isolation at the detail supplied by Malcolm Gray dated 10th Feb last. If that is the case then I would suggest that the law requires changing with regard to fruit trees in a domestic garden.

But which part of the Act applies, because as Neill Campbell ( if it is the Neill Campbell that I know he is a property lawyer) has also pointed out on 10th Feb last:

“I think you will find that by virtue of reg. 10(1)(a) of The Town and Country Planning (Trees) Regulations 1999 (SI no. 1892 of 1999) and the schedule to them, the requirement to notify the Planning Authority does not apply to “the pruning, in accordance with good horticultural practice, of any tree cultivated for the production of fruit” (unless the fruit tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order)so maybe Mrs K did not need to notify for the pruning works to her fruit trees - though she would for pruning of ornamental cherry (prunus).”

That aside, having witnessed this Lib dem council’s behaviour and attitude over the last few years I have come to the conclusion that they are an arrogant, self-centered and secretive bunch who accept no or little responsibility for their actions. They totally forget that they are public servants paid for out of the public purse. I’m not suggesting that we go back to the days when they would sign off letters as “Your obedient servant” ; but they have to realise that they are in a position of privilege and honour and that they are not the masters and we the servants.

By: Frugal Dougal

Frugal Dougal — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:48:16 +0000

I couldn’t put it better - it’s interference gone bananas!

By: John Ionides

John Ionides — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:27:27 +0000

The big problem I see with the extension of conservation areas is that they make like difficult for the general public (e.g. I wonder how much pruning three trees would end up costing, both in terms of time and money) and yet large scale development (e.g. Three Crown’s House; Kaleidoscope; 13 Chesterton Rd) have managed to get around any restrictions. In other words, far from conserving, they seem to have the effect that only large, well-funded and/or well-connected projects can go ahead while making it hard for ordinary people to make changes (and even if the regulations might not forbid something, I suspect that poor understanding of what is/isn’t allowed just stops people form even trying).

By: Neill Campbell

Neill Campbell — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:05:04 +0000

I think you will find that by virtue of reg. 10(1)(a) of The Town and Country Planning (Trees) Regulations 1999 (SI no. 1892 of 1999) and the schedule to them, the requirement to notify the Planning Authority does not apply to “the pruning, in accordance with good horticultural practice, of any tree cultivated for the production of fruit” (unless the fruit tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order)so maybe Mrs K did not need to notify for the pruning works to her fruit trees - though she would for pruning of ornamental cherry (prunus).

By: Malcolm Gray

Malcolm Gray — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:52:42 +0000

http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/li-treesinconsareas says “Buildings, landscape features and trees all contribute to the special character of a Conservation Area. The importance of trees in Conservation Areas is recognised in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (external site, opens new window) which makes special provision for trees in Conservation Areas which are not already protected by a Tree Preservation Order. ”

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/ukpga_19900008_en_16#pt8-ch1-pb5-l1g211

which certainly suggests it is the law

By: Malcolm Gray

Malcolm Gray — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:46:55 +0000

Is it not normal for someone pruning a tree to have to check for tree preservation orders or conservation areas and tree surgeons to offer to do the check and application?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:56:26 +0000

I sincerely hope it is a native Apple Tree otherwise the council will be seeking its removal!