Neighbours lose appeal to get giant pines chopped down
Neighbours continue to be frustrated as an ongoing dispute over the ‘dangerous’ trees in their estate rumbles on, writes Local Democracy Reporter James Aldridge.
The Tilehurst residents have complained that falling pine cones from the trees could seriously injure their children and grandchildren and damage their cars, and falling branches also pose a danger.
Earlier this year, the neighbours attempted to have one of the towering pine trees felled.
However, an an appeal against a refusal to have the tree cut down was rejected by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.
The group are across three households: Laura Maskell and Tracy Darvell, who are neighbours in Long Lane, and Brian Nunan, who lives in Cecil Aldin Drive.
Mr Nunan, 56, submitted the application to cut the tree down in his garden, which overshadows Mrs Maskell’s home.
He has complained that he’s had four vehicles damaged by falling cones, with the cars regularly covered in pigeon droppings, as the birds roost in the tree.
Mr Nunan said: “They [the vehicles] are covered with dents, dings and poo.”
He has had his van, Nissan Micra and Chevrolet car damaged, and claims falling branches have done £3,500 worth of damage to his SsangYong Tivoli.
Mr Nunan fears for the safety of his house.
He said: “What goes? Does my house go or does the tree go? That’s what I feel like.”
However, he’s conflicted about the idea of moving out.
Mr Nunan said: “I don’t want to move house because it’s a lovely location.”
But then, he added: “I would love to move out but I don’t have the money.”
Mr Nunan and the other neighbours suspect the trees are coming to the end of their life cycle.
They are Monterey pines, part of the maritime pine tree family.
They have a typical lifespan of 80 to 90 years, according to the National Trust.
It is understood that they were planted around the 1950s and 1960s.
Mrs Maskell worries about the safety of her children as cones and branches fall from the tree.
She lives with her husband Simon, daughters aged seven and one and son aged five.
She stated in frustration that the situation ‘is exactly the same’ since it was first raised in April.
However, she is determined to stay in the area.
Mrs Maskell said: “We’re not planning on going anywhere. It’s a shame the children can’t play in the garden, but we still have half a garden which we use.
“But we have to be careful when it’s windy or rainy.
“We’re not going anywhere. It’s just a shame really.”
The trees are protected from felling and pruning by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) which have been established by West Berkshire Council.
Tracy Darvall is looking into solicitors to explore the neighbours' legal options.
She has previously considered moving out.
She said: “I just want to stay local. I literally want to stay local. Because I didn’t want to move very far at all.
“I couldn’t find anything. And then I thought: I have three lovely neighbours, and just thought I don’t want move.
“I’m being pushed out of my home by West Berks Council.
“My last thing now is to get a solicitor and go down the legal route. I just hope a child doesn’t get injured in the meantime.”
Her garden is covered in dead pine needles and splodges of pigeon faeces.
The neighbours hit back at suggestions they are ‘anti tree’.
Mrs Maskell said: “I bought the house with the tree here because I like trees, I like the shade in the garden, the wildlife… you can hear the owls, it’s just nice.
“But actually then when you are faced with something that’s not just a pretty tree, it’s actually something that can hurt my children, it’s not ideal.”
She was able to cut down poisonous laurel hedges, and aims to replace them with English trees.
Ms Darvell added: “We will replant. I bought the house because of the trees, they’re pretty, they give you a lovely lot of shade. I’m quite happy to pay and get trees replanted.”
The houses Ms Darvell and Mrs Maskell live in were approved by the council’s planning committee (reference 14/00256/FULD) in 2014.
They have cast doubt on whether the homes should have been approved in the first place.
All the neighbours have got in touch with specialists to assess the age and health of the trees and assist them with future plans for pruning and felling going forward.
A spokesperson for West Berkshire Council said: “Appeals to remove the TPOs and take down the trees have been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.
“However, applications for tree works for sound arboricultural reasons have been approved.
“The householders are able to submit further applications that would be determined on individual merits and they may wish to seek advice from a qualified Arborist beforehand.”
