A housebuilders plan to chop down a “nationally significant” tree in Silsden has been blocked by Bradford Council.
Persimmon Homes had applied to fell the 22-metre-tall ash on a field off Bolton Road, Silsden – where the developer plans to build over 130 homes.
The company argued that while the tree was relatively healthy, it could get Ash Dieback in the future, and this would put residents of the new estate at risk.
But officers at Bradford Council said the tree was “irreplaceable,” and refused permission to chop it down, describing Persimmon’s verdict on the tree’s future to be “overly negative.”
The application by Persimmon said:
“While the tree currently has no obvious symptoms of Ash Dieback, other trees at the site have symptoms of the disease and it is very likely the tree will become infected in future.”
It says that when homes, roads and footpaths are built around the tree, it will “be an unacceptable risk.”
It adds:
“It is recommended to remove the tree, felling it to ground level to remove the risk posed.”
Elizabeth McLaughlin, arboriculture officer at Bradford Council, said:
“The tree is highly significant in the landscape and is visible from a number of locations.
“It contributes to the distinctive pattern of trees in the area adding greatly to the remaining verdant character of the major development under construction.
“The tree was allowed an appropriate amount of space, with gardens and public access being located outside the crown spread in the original Persimmon layout as approved.
“It should be noted that the tree at the time of inspection was not showing signs of Ash dieback, which could indicate that the tree is a resistant specimen and adds to the importance of its retention.
“The tree is a Veteran Tree as captured by the Woodland Trusts Ancient Tree Inventory. As such it is considered nationally significant and irreplaceable habitat.
“The layout shows that the tree will not be located directly in or over private gardens. The application repeatedly mentions a number of targets which will be directly beneath the canopy of the tree.
“It should be noted that the plan submitted to support the application is not the one which has been approved and shows a misleading picture of the future site use.
“The insistence that the tree, despite showing no signs of the disease, will inevitably succumb to Ash dieback appears to be overly negative and, by no measurable means, accurate.
“The evidence provided in justification is not considered to outweigh the harm that would be caused by the removal of the tree.”
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