Warning over oak tree

An oak tree believed to be 150-years-old at the centre of a row between neighbours in Cannock is to be protected. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) has been put on the tree by Cannock Chase Council's planning control committee.

Councillors who decided the order was necessary also urged householders living nearby to settle their differences. A TPO should have been put in place 12 years ago but was never confirmed. The matter came to light following a request from a neighbour to have the tree in a garden in Dursley Drive cut back.

The council's tree protection officer told the committee that a TPO did not mean that work to cut back a tree could not be carried out.

But it meant that there was more regulation, with the council having to agree to the work, and it being carried out by approved contractors.

She said the problem was that the neighbour wanted the tree cut back but felt the owner of the tree, who did not want the work to be done, should pay for it.

"They really need to resolve it among themselves," she added.

"There is no law to make people carry out work on their trees."

Councillor Brian Faulkner said: "I think this is a case of buyer beware.

"This is a warning to people that if they buy a property with a dominant tree in the garden they need to be aware that that tree is going to be there a long time.

"It would be very useful if the neighbours could get together with our officers and sort this out."

But Councillor Doris Grice disagreed with the TPO order.

She said: "We should put people before trees.

"If that tree is a nuisance and a blight on other people's lives then something should be done about it. It isn't affecting the owner of the tree; it's affecting the neighbour."

Councillor Les Bullock said: "The tree was there long before the houses, and the people who live there have to put up with the consequences."