Wellington residents win fight to fell giant protected tree

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 14:31 · Archive

A 140-year-old protected wellingtonia tree in Wellington will be felled after repeatedly dropping branches on nearby homes.

Residents of Wellington have won their battle to have a 140-year-old wellingtonia tree felled after it repeatedly dropped branches on nearby bungalows on Lindfield Drive. The tree, also known as a giant redwood, is protected by a preservation order and dates back to the 1880s. It stands 21 metres (70 feet) tall, just metres from residential properties.

Telford & Wrekin Council initially refused permission to remove the tree, arguing its removal would harm the area's appearance. Tree owner Jonathan Rickell appealed the decision to a government planning inspector. During a planning consultation, a 92-year-old resident told the council they had experienced a "very close escape when a branch fell by my front door and almost hit me".

Planning inspector Elaine Benson visited the site in October and issued her decision on Thursday. She acknowledged that removing the tree would cause "significant harm to the visual amenity of the area" but noted its "long history of limb failure and reactive pruning and regrowth". She concluded that although there would normally be a "strong presumption against the removal of a healthy, protected tree", the documented pattern of branch failures and risks to residents justified felling it.

How it is being reported

• Telford residents win battle to have 144-year-old giant tree felled after close escape for neighbour, 92Giant tree will be felled after branches hit nearby homesShropshire Star · 14 Nov, 14:15
• Giant tree to be felled after branches hit homesWellington residents have won their fight to fell a tree that has dropped branches on their homes.BBC Shropshire · 14 Nov, 11:53

In this story: Wellington · Telford & Wrekin Council · Jonathan Rickell · Elaine Benson

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