Fearful neighbour's bid to chop down oak blocked

A 60ft tree looming over village homes has been saved from the chop after objections to it being felled.

Paul Hackney, whose thatched cottage is nearest to the oak in Sleepy Lane, Kings Newton, had applied for planning consent to cut down the tree he fears could fall and crush his home.

But South Derbyshire District Council planners refused his application to axe the tree, which he does not own, planted in the place of an ancient oak at the site in 1991.

While three neighbours had backed the plan there were 77 objection letters, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service, along with opposition from Melbourne Parish Council, Melbourne Civic Society and the Kings Newton Residents Association.

Under planning law, applicants do not need to be the owner of a site or property to apply for planning permission, although ownership is required to enact any potential subsequent approval.

Mr Hackney claimed the "nuisance" oak had "outgrown its position" and caused blockages in the sewer network as well as pushing up nearby tarmac and blocking light.

He told the council meeting the potential for the tree to fall on his thatched cottage was a "frightening prospect".

But John Jackson, chair of the Kings Newton Residents Association, said the oak was healthy, could live for several centuries, and "doesn't demonstrate any reasonable risk".

He said the original ancient oak had formed the meeting spot for village elders for many years.

Councillor Amy Wheelton dubbed the oak "beautiful" while her council colleague Andrew Kirke said there was "no reason to chop down such a healthy specimen".

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