List of protected trees: tree felling and management

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A decision made (05.03.07) to approve actions to protected trees at Sandybrook Day Centre.

Subject:	List of Protected Trees: Tree felling and management, Sandybrook, St Peter
Decision ref:	MD-PE-2007-0032	Exempt clause(s):		None
Type of report:	Written and oral	Report file ref:		1/05/02/2
Person giving report (if oral): Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Written report – author: Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Written Report Title: List of Protected Trees: Tree felling and management, Sandybrook, St Peter
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment; 1. approved the proposed actions to those Protected Trees at Sandybrook Day Centre as set out in the table in the report and; 2. determined that a replacement tree, in respect of the removal of the Lombardy poplar, be planted, following consultation with the Arboricultural Officer to determine species and size; 3. authorised appropriate amendment of the List of Protected Trees.
Reason(s) for decision: The proposed works relate to Protected Trees which are either dead, dying or diseased and seek to safeguard public safety whilst seeking to ensure the longer term amenity of the locality.
Action required: 1. notify the Health and Social Services Department of the decision; 2. request the Arboricultural Officer to liaise with the Health and Social Services Department to determine species and size of the replacement tree, and to facilitate its procurement and planting; 3. make appropriate amendment to the List of Protected Trees
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

List of protected trees: tree felling and management

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

List of Protected Trees

Tree felling and management, Sandybrook, St Peter

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Minister to consider proposals to fell and manage Protected Trees at Sandybrook Day Centre, St Peter.

Background and discussion

In August 1997 over 50 trees at the site of the former Sandybrook Hospital, St Peter, forming a green corridor adjacent to the perquage and providing significant amenity value to the grounds of the site which is now a residential home and day care centre, were formally protected by a Tree Preservation Order. With the introduction of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, the trees retain formal protection by inclusion on the List of Protected Trees. The new legislation provides protection in respect of both their removal and their management for which the Minister’s permission is required, under the provisions of Article 61 of the law.

The site at Sandybrook is administered by the Health and Social Services Department and advice into the management of the trees is provided by the Transport and Technical Services Department’s Arboricultural Officer. He has advised that a number of trees on the site are now either dead, diseased or dying and require removal or management in order to manage liability. The trees affected are as follows:

Location	Tree	Status	Action
T32	Lombardy poplar	Diseased and dying. Large amount of fungal brackets	Fell
T108	English oak	Dead. Becoming dangerous	Fell
T114 – T116	English oak	Extensive deadwood within canopies	Deadwood requires removal

It is evident that the trees that are dead or dying will not now contribute to the amenity of the area and represent a potential risk to public safety. It is considered that, on the basis of its prominent position on the site and subsequent contribution to amenity, that a requirement to replace the Lombardy poplar is required.

The appropriate management of those trees where deadwood is present in the canopy should ensure their retention, and continued contribution to local amenity, whilst managing public risk.

Recommendation

It is considered that the action identified by the Arboricultural Officer is appropriate to manage public risk whilst seeking to ensure the continued contribution to local amenity of those trees which are to be retained. On the basis of the above, it is recommended that the Minister for Planning and Environment;

1. approves the proposed actions to those Protected Trees at Sandybrook Day Centre as set out in the table above and;

2. requires that a replacement tree, in respect of the removal of the Lombardy poplar, be planted, following consultation with the Arboricultural Officer to determine species and size;

3. authorises appropriate amendment of the List of Protected Trees.

Reason(s) for Decision

The proposed works relate to Protected Trees which are either dead, dying or diseased and seek to safeguard public safety whilst seeking to ensure the longer term amenity of the locality.

Action Required

1. notify the Health and Social Services Department of the decision;

2. request the Arboricultural Officer to liaise with the Health and Social Services Department to determine species and size of the replacement tree, and to facilitate its procurement and planting;

3. make appropriate amendment to the List of Protected Trees.

Written by:

Kevin Pilley

Assistant Director

Endorsed by:

Attachments:

Appendix 1: Schedule of Protected Trees at Sandybrook

Appendix 2: Plan of Protected Trees at Sandybrook

Appendix 3: Photo of Lombardy poplar

File ref: 1/05/02/02

Date: 27 February 2007