13-17 Hursley Road, Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 2FW

Proposal

1no. Mature Oak (T1) – Crown reduction by reducing the lateral spread of the canopy by up to 3m on the longest extending limbs and by up to 2m elsewhere around the crown, maintaining a natural and balanced canopy form. The tree is situated within a commercial car park and overhangs adjacent pavement and highway areas. The crown also extends towards nearby telephone and overhead power lines. The proposed works form part of an ongoing cyclical maintenance programme to manage the size and spread of the crown in relation to surrounding infrastructure and site usage. A visible stress line is present from the principal stem union extending down the main trunk, indicating a potential structural weakness. The proposed crown reduction will lessen end-weight and sail effect throughout the canopy, thereby reducing loading on the main scaffold limbs and stem unions. This will help minimise the likelihood of branch or stem failure and improve the long-term management of risk associated with the tree's location above areas of regular pedestrian and vehicular activity. The works will retain the tree's amenity value while promoting its continued safe retention within the landscape.