Teacher, 57, is banned from pruning 72ft tree as council blocks work

Teacher, 57, is banned from pruning 72ft tree which towers over her home after council ruled it posed ‘no safety concerns’

•  A teacher has been banned from pruning a 72ft tree which towers over her home
•  The lime tree has shot up since Celia Senior moved into her house in 2007
•  Darlington Borough Council ruled that the tree poses ‘no safety concerns’

A frustrated teacher has been banned from pruning a 72ft tree which towers over her home after the council ruled it posed ‘no safety concerns’.

The lime tree has shot up since Celia Senior moved into her detached property in Darlington, County Durham, in 2007.

It is now 72ft tall and still growing as it towers precariously above the property on Brompton Way.

Because it is covered by a tree preservation order, the 57-year-old is unable to carry out any pruning without permission — which has been refused by Darlington Borough Council.

Frustrated teacher Celia Senior has been banned from pruning a 72ft tree which towers over her home

She said: ‘I don’t want the tree cut down, I just want to manage it. We’re absolutely inundated with mess in the gutters, and we’re concerned about the public footpath because it’s starting to raise up to paving slabs.

‘Initially we were concerned it might fall onto the house because of the way it is leaning but the independent arborist said that wasn’t the case but he thought it does need to be managed.’

She added: ‘It’s growing taller — it just gets bigger and bigger.’

A report produced by an independent arborist recommended a significant crown reduction and reshape to reduce the overall height of the tree.

Saying the tree was in good form and vitality, with no significant evidence of structural weak points, the report said: ‘Common Lime are fast growing trees that will reach a significant height. 

‘Without suitable management this tree will continue to increase in size, both vertically and laterally.

‘Due to its size, more significant structural failure must not be dismissed, and a suitable arboricultural management program is required to reduce this health and safety risk and maintain and ensure the health of the tree.’

He recommended that work should be done to the crown of the tree, which is what Ms Senior had applied to do.

She lodged an appeal with the planning inspectorate in January but is still awaiting a response.

A report produced by an independent arborist recommended a significant crown reduction and reshape to reduce the overall height of the tree

Ms Senior added: ‘I just don’t think what the council has said is logical. I can’t really understand their objection because it will look a lot nicer in the neighbourhood.’

She added: ‘They wrote to the neighbours and no-one had any objections. In fact people have being saying it’s about time it’s done.’

A spokesperson for Darlington Borough Council said: ‘We can confirm permission was refused for the tree works and we understand the house owner has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. 

‘It would not be appropriate to comment while we, like the householder, await the outcome of the appeal.’

A refusal notice issued by the council says the tree is considered in ‘reasonable form and condition’.

It adds: ‘Without any satisfactory justification, the proposed crown lift and associated pruning would result in a loss of natural form to a protected tree in acceptable condition with no safety concerns, furthermore the application has not provided any structural reasons for the proposed work.’

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