The importance of Trees and Woodlands in Bath & North East
Somerset
Trees are an important part of our natural life support system.
They have a vital role to play in the sustainability of our urban
and rural areas. Trees benefit:
-
the local economy by creating potential for employment,
encouraging inward investment, bringing in tourism and adding value
to property;
-
the local environment by reducing the effects of air pollution
and storm water run off, reducing energy consumption through
moderation of the local climate, and providing a wide range of
wildlife habitats;
-
the social fabric in terms of recreation and
education
Planning Services
The Arboricultural Section within Planning Services deals with
Tree Preservation Orders,
Trees in Conservation Areas and Planning Applications that
affect Trees
A public register of notifications of works to trees within
Conservation Areas is available to view at Trimbridge House,
Bath.
1st October 2008 - New Tree Preservation Order
Regulations come into force
From 1 October 2008 there are changes to the way you can apply
for consent to carry out works to trees protected by a tree
preservation order.
On 1 October new regulations come into force which
introduce:
- a standard mandatory application form
- a requirement that information to support the reasons for the
proposed work are provided with the application
However, for Conservation Area notifications there is no legal
requirement for a (the) form to be used although it would be our
preferred option.
We will put the new form on our website when it is made
available to us by the Department for Communities and Local
Government. From the 1 October the new standard application form
will be the only legal way of submitting an application.
We will continue to accept applications submitted in various
formats up to and including Tuesday 30 September.
Parks and Green Spaces Team
We inspect and undertake maintenance to the 24,000 trees growing
on council-owned land within the Authority. We also manage 9
hectares of woodland and implement new tree planting schemes
A highway tree is defined as any tree or part of a tree that is
likely to cause danger by falling on the highway.
Powers to undertake highway works are vested in highway
authorities, and as such authorities have wide ranging powers over
all trees in the highway, whether they own them or not.
