The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management concerning provisional Tree Preservation Order (TPO) No. 5003/2022/TPO which was made to protect a Silver Birch tree on the southern boundary of the Village Green, Teston to the rear of the property known as Sylvaner.  It was noted that:

·  The Order was made in response to a Conservation Area notification to fell the tree and grind out the stump.

·  The proposal and the amenity value of the tree had been assessed and the tree was found to merit the protection of a TPO based on its amenity contribution to the local landscape.  The proposal was viewed as inappropriate arboricultural management, and it was considered expedient to make the tree the subject of a TPO. 

·  An objection had been received to the making of the Order from Teston Parish Council, the owner of the tree.  The Officers considered that the reasons provided to support the objection were not based on arboricultural grounds and were not sufficient to outweigh the loss of a healthy mature tree.

Councillor Coulling of Teston Parish Council and Councillor Mrs Gooch (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That Tree Preservation Order No. 5003/2022/TPO be confirmed without modification.

Voting:  9 – For  3 – Against  1 – Abstention