Residents campaign to prevent felling of 100-year-old London Road tree

A sycamore tree on the corner of London Road and Battenhall Place, understood to be around 100 years old, is the subject of a request for it to be felled.

The application says the tree - which has a tree preservation order on it - is needed to be felled "due to large overhang from base onto road."

According to the applicant, Andy Jones of Ambrose Commercial Group, this is the view of a tree surgeon, and he fears that it could fall on electricity cables.

But outraged residents living nearby have now started a campaign to save the tree. 

TREE: The tree that has an application to be felled (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)Graham Taylor, a resident living at a property in Battenhall Place directly opposite, says he and others have been checking out the windows regularly to ensure nothing happens to the tree after horror stories elsewhere of trees being felled. However, Mr Jones said he would not take any action until the application goes through. 

He said the most infamous story of the Sycamore Gap tree - an iconic tree on Hadrian's Wall, in Northumberland, which was mysteriously felled overnight - had been a "wakeup call."

"We are watching it round the clock," Mr Taylor said.

OBJECTION: Graham Taylor (Image: Graham Taylor)

"These trees need the top level of protection. Trees protect from the harmful effects of air pollution. 

"Once it is gone, it is gone - it takes decades to grow back and mature."

The tree is on the land of number 58 London Road and an artist's impression shows which tree would be lost with an "improved parking area" proposed for the site. 

PLAN: Planning application (Image: Worcester City Council)There is also an application to "reduce/thin out tree and remove major deadwood" from a second tree on the site.

Mr Taylor said: "It would leave space for one car parking space - really? That is breathtaking. 

"We had a successful campaign four years ago to push the previous owners to cut down ivy and the trees were brought back to full health. 

"Now we will all fight again."

Mr Taylor said he was collecting signatures for a letter of objection which will be submitted to Worcester City Council as part of an ongoing consultation. 

The letter says: "If a tree is not in a dangerous condition and is not diseased there is no case for its removal.

"Branches that are overhanging are not grounds for a tree's removal."

Ian and Jenny Benfield of Battenhall Place, have submitted a joint letter to the consultation which says: "We object to these proposals on the grounds that they would damage important local trees without reasonable justification."

However, Mr Jones told the Worcester News the reason for the proposed tree felling was due to the advice he had received from a tree surgeon, and not to expand the car park. 

"It (the car park expansion) is not a reason, the trees are on the edge," he said.

"The previous owners got permission to crown them, they never did the work. 

"The one is hanging over the road, it is dangerous. It is not because I don't like trees.  

"It is because I don't want it falling, damaging electrical cables."

The application can be found at https://plan.worcester.gov.uk, using the application number 23/00774/TPOA.