Protection of Haslemere Trees
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Haslemere has a high population of mature trees which give the town and its surrounding approaches, road, footpath or rail that 'special rural' feel.
The current ease of felling trees in Haslemere and surrounding villages appears to be increasing. In the last 9 months, 2 major mature tress were felled along Scotland Lane and one on Sturt Farm. The Haslemere Society is initiating a drive to protect our trees by putting a TPO on them. A Tree Preservation order (TPO) is basically Planning Permission on a tree, so it can't be felled or have major surgery without prior permission. Any resident can object to an action against a TPO protected tree. Does my Tree have a TPO? To see if your selected tree is already protected please follow the instructions below. Waverley has recently categorised and mapped the whole of Haslemere. Firstly download the Haslemere Grid to determine the map of your required area. There are 131 maps in total. Select the map area or areas required
For trees you wish to protect which are outside your garden, the application is for Trees under the Amenity View grouping:
The "tree(s) are clearly visible from a public place and add value to the streetscene and local landscape". A public place is anywhere, from your house to wider afield. All the trees in the town over to the southern brow and surrounding area are, for instance, visible from Gibbet Cross Hill at Hindhead. To protect a specific tree or group of trees tap TPO Application
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Amenity Considerations (Waverley Document extract) A fundamental consideration when deciding whether or not to make PO is whether the tree or trees have a public amenity value. Primarily, this will be interpreted as meaning that the tree(s) are clearly visible from a public place and add value to the streetscene or local landscape. However, trees that have a strong cultural, historical, wildlife or rarity value can be considered. When assessing the amenity value of trees, the following factors are considered:- Visibility: the extent to which the trees or woodlands can be seen by the general public will inform the Council’s assessment of whether its impact on the local environment is significant. If they cannot be seen or are just barely visible from a public place, a TPO might only be justified in exceptional circumstances; Individual impact: the fact that a tree is publicly visible will itself not be sufficient to warrant a TPO. The Council will also assess the tree’s particular importance by reference to its size and form, its future potential as an amenity, taking into account any special factors such as its rarity, value as a screen or contribution to the character or appearance of a conservation area. In relation to a group of trees or woodland, the assessment is made of its collective impact; Wider impact: the significance of the trees in their local surroundings will also be assessed, taking into account how suitable they are to their particular setting, as well as the presence of other trees in the vicinity. |