AT/2019/0292Planning Application AT/2019/0292

Mature Eucalyptus (T2) - Fell. The tree has recently shed a large diameter branch (circa 450mm) during calm weather conditions onto the road (blocking it). It poses a threat to the highway and adjacent land owners so should be felled to ensure the owner of the tree is acting in accordance with their Duty of Care to their neighbours. In my opinion this branch failure was completely unforeseeable because there are no obvious defects that would have been visible from the ground or by a climbing assessment. You will note the leaves from the fallen branch are also completely healthy (see photo). In my opinion this failure also appears to be indicative of summer branch drop. However, there is some obvious discolouration of the branch cross section (see photo) which indicates the trees defensive mechanism has been activated, the cause of this is not clear. I have also considered the impact of removing T1 (for similar reasons) which would expose the canopy of T2, altering the wind loading dynamic, adding to an already complex situation. As an additional supporting argument for removing this tree, I refer to the following regarding summer branch drop. "A tree that has lost one limb is more likely to lose another than a similar nearby tree of the same species is to lose its first branch" (Harris et al, 2004. P.428, Arboriculture 4th Edition). Replant with a container grown 1-1.5m Scots pine.

AT/2019/0292