There are currently Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on two plots of woodland at southern end of Ingatestone:
- The land behind The Heythrop and the A12 slip road
- The land between the A12 slip road and Roman Road
Last May residents in The Heythrop were surprised and appalled when contractors started fencing off the woodland from their gardens and started felling trees, sometimes trespassing in their gardens and acting in an intimidating manner. The contractors were apparently acting for property developers who were keen to buy the land off the present owners, National Highways.
The residents approached Ingatestone & Fryerning Parish Council and Brentwood Council who served temporary TPOs on the two pieces of woodland. The orders were re-served in December as woodland TPOs.
Also in December National Highways commissioned consultants to carry out a TEMPO assessment of both plots, TEMPO being a standard evaluation method for the justification of woodland TPOs. The report concluded that Plot A did not warrant a TPO due to the poor condition of many of the trees. However, in the case of Plot B the woodland did warrant a TPO, the assessor classifying it as “unmanaged – fair condition”.
As a result of an objection to the TPOs the issue came to Brentwood Council’s Planning Committee on 13th May when the conclusions of the consultants’ assessment were put to members for approval. A statement on behalf of residents of The Heythrop objecting to the removal of the TPO on Plot A was presented. Two ward councillors also raised concerns on environmental and amenity grounds should these trees be removed. In the case of Plot A an amended recommendation was approved to confirm the TPO. The TPO for Plot B was also confirmed. As Plot A has no public access it was also agreed that the Council’s arboricultural adviser would request to access to it from the landowner in order to carry out his own assessment.
Both plots of land are safe from the threat of tree felling for the timebeing. It’s also worth noting that neither plot was included in the list of possible future sites for development in the recent Call for Sites Report recently published Brentwood Council.
Written by BBC Cllr Hugh Gorton
