Hemel Hempstead residents call for council to do more to protect natural assets

The residents believe a protected Beech tree may have been vandalised
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Concerned residents in Hemel Hempstead have set up a petition calling for Dacorum Council to actively do more to protect its natural assets and the environment.

The petition was set up after a number of residents were unhappy about a tree - that has a Tree Protection Order - that they say has been vandalised, and could now be cut down.

One resident who lives in Glendale Road wants the council to protect the Beech tree.

One of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned aboutOne of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned about
One of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned about

She said: "There is a block of land that has a number of very mature and established trees on it.

"The trees are home to an abundance of wildlife including robins, wood pigeons, starlings, squirrels and bats.

"Residents in the local area were aware that the land technically can't be built on as a number of the Beech Trees are protected by Tree Protection Orders.

"This in essence means the trees can't be cut down or wilfully destroyed and the block of land can't be built on because of the positioning of the trees.

One of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned aboutOne of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned about
One of the residents sent in a before and after picture of the tree they are concerned about

"Unbeknownst to the local residents a tree survey was carried out on one of the Beech Trees in particular, in September 2019.

"The tree specialist identified that the tree has been vandalised with holes drilled into the base of it.

"Someone has vandalised this beautiful tree, someone has drilled holes into it, and possibly pored diesel into it, it is like that want to kill the tree. This is absolutely disgusting!!

"Whilst in lockdown residents on Sunnyhill Road, whose properties back into the block of land, have been informed by Dacorum Council that the owner of a property next to the land has submitted planning permission to build three four-storey houses on the block and is requesting permission to cut the protected trees down!

"Local residents have also made Dacorum Council aware that bats reside in the trees and that they and their roosts are a protected species.

"If Dacorum Council approves this planning work, despite the fact that the protected trees have been intentionally vandalised, they will be sending out a message that says to the community that Dacorum Council don't care about the environment and the local wildlife and that Tree Protection Orders don't matter and that basically builders, vandalisers, planners and land owners can do whatever they want to the trees - just don't get caught doing it!

"Before the tree was vandalised I don't think the council would have considered the application, but now the tree has been damaged and could possibly die, the council might be more inclined to knock it down. I think it is irresponsible of the council if they approve the application."

Dacorum Borough Council are monitoring the site and say there currently no evidence to support the matter further, and the tree is in poor health due to other factors not related to the possible vandalism.

A spokesperson for Dacorum Borough Council said: "Our Planning Enforcement team were made aware that works to/near protected trees were being undertaken on 22 April 2020.

"On the same day, an officer visited the site to assess. On the site (which is a plot of land between numbers 10 and 14 Glendale), there are four protected beech trees (as per Tree Preservation Order 20, made in 1968).

"At the time of the visit, the officer was satisfied that no works had been carried out to the protected trees and only works to clear the site generally had been carried out.

"We are currently considering three applications at the site – two for housing (one for a 4 bedroom house and one for 2 x 3 bedroom houses) and an application to remove one of the protected trees.

"It is anticipated that another application will be made to seek to remove another tree.

"We are monitoring the site closely and are satisfied that to date no offences have occurred.

"The pending applications will be considered and determined in line with local and national policies.

"We are aware that there is an allegation of intentional damage to one of the protected trees at the site.

"However, there is currently no evidence to support consideration to take this matter further.

"Additionally, advice from our Trees and Woodlands team suggests that the tree is in poor health due to other factors not related to the possible vandalism."

A resident on Sunnyhill Road added: "I understand that houses are being built but I think they need to protect the environment as well. If that tree has a tree protection order it should not be built on.

"Our main concern is that if this tree is taken down, with a TPO, what does that mean for the future?"

Another resident added: "The biggest concern my husband and I have, is for the mature, well-established and protected trees that currently occupy the land.

"Up until a couple of weeks ago, there were several beautiful trees that would easily be 100 years old, some of which have been given TPO’s to ensure they’re not cut down.

"These trees are also home to an abundance of wildlife including nesting birds, robins, wood pigeons, squirrels and it also appears bats, which I would point out are a protected species.

"The reason I mention this is because only a few days after the Beech Tree was cut down my neighbour found bats in her garden, which have never been sighted before.

"This leads to the obvious conclusion that the bats were living in the tree that was cut down, with no investigation taken place before this happened and now they have been left without a home.

"I am deeply saddened that at a time where the environment and conservation of wildlife is of such utmost importance, that these plans would even be a consideration to the council, purely for the personal financial gain of one household and a multi-million pound contractor.

"It would be a travesty for this land to be destroyed, with complete lack of compassion or respect, shown to the environment, wildlife and surrounding community."