We’re scared a huge 100-year-old tree will fall down and crush our house – but council REFUSES to cut it down
RESIDENTS are scared that a 100-year-old tree will fall and crush their homes - but the council is refusing to cut it down.
Neighbours said the 50ft pine tree is unsafe because of its height and heavy unbalanced top.
Others called it menacing, accused it of infringing on their human rights and said it makes them anxious.
But West Berkshire Council insists the tree in Mortimer poses an extremely low risk and has issued a protection order for it.
Resident Rosie Foster-Williams said: "The Equality and Human Rights Commission says everyone has a right to and to enjoy their home peace.
"I suffer because worrying about the tree falling is making my state of health worse.
"The tree is not safe to be in a residential area due to its height and heavy unbalanced top."
Joan Morris-Ashton added: "We have consulted a tree surgeon, who put in an application to West Berkshire Council back in January this year to reduce the crown in order to make the tree safe.
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"Unfortunately the application got lost in the West Berks system."
Robert Birch said: "I am somewhat puzzled that in a village full of mature trees and surrounded by pine woods, there is a need to place a TPO on this tree."
But council tree officer Jon Thomas said the risk of the tree killing someone was one in ten million.
He added: "The tree makes important contributions to local amenity, biodiversity, and landscape character as well as carbon sequestration."
He said the tree should be saved because it is a visible local feature in an area where there are few trees.
"There is a foreseeable threat to the tree in that the owners wish to remove it and neighbours object to it.
"It therefore meets assessment criteria to warrant the confirmation of the preservation order.
"It breaks up the built form of the area and softens the various iterations of development.
"It is particularly notable when viewed from The Bevers, which is an area largely devoid of significant trees."
A planning meeting on Wednesday is expected to decide the fate of the tree for certain.