The Preservation of Winchester's Treed Areas - TrustNews Jun 2005
A few weekends ago, 33 unprotected trees with a very visible presence in Bereweeke Road were felled on Peter Symonds College land. This felling radically changed the treed appearance of the junction of Bereweeke Road with Andover Road. In the absence of Tree Preservation Orders (TP0s) there is nothing that can be done to an individual householder who decides to fell any of the unprotected trees on his property, for whatever reason. All unprotected trees can therefore be considered to be under varying degrees of "threat". And to obtain TPOs one must establish that the trees concerned are important features influencing the character of the area, which might be under threat from felling.
At Peter Symonds such a threat resulting from a proposed development scheme went unrecognized.
One area of potential threat is the Stockbridge Road entry into Winchester where trees on the western side are largely unprotected by TPOs and where development is gradually encroaching. Opposite Weeke pond, for example, a recent planning application includes a tall building close to the roadside, where what is really needed is a line of roadside trees, with any development pushed back to allow for their growth.
In former times, Sleepers Hill, Chilbolton Avenue, Bereweeke Road, and Park Road were classified as Special Policy Areas, which gave a special status to these roads which provided a treed rim to the bowl surrounding the City. Unfortunately this classification was discarded several years ago. And there may well be other areas which are causing equal concern, so what can we do about it?
There are plans within the City Council for a tree survey, priority being given to urban Winchester, but resources are already inadequate and becominq more so. It is perhaps worth considering for a group of residents to identify what they consider to be important trees in their road or area, and then obtaining the services of an arboriculturist to assess the health of the identified trees. This report could then be sent to the City Council asking for the necessary TPO action where required.
The Trust will be investigating this approach.
Are you worried by Tree Felling or Suspicious about Building Work in Progress in your Neighbourhood ?
If you are worried, and you want to know if it is being carried out with the approval of the City Council, even if the trees in question do not have Tree Preservation Orders on them, you should telephone the City Planning Office (telephone: 01962 - 8482931848177) if it is within normal office hours.
If it is out of working hours, and particularly at weekends, you should telephone the Winchester Council Emergency Line on 01962 - 865407, when you will be put through to someone who will immediately investigate your complaint.