Moseley Forum

13 June 2012
Dear Councillor Sharpe and members of the Planning Committee
Re: Horse Chestnut Tree – Meteor Ford Site, Moseley

On Sunday morning, June 10th, Moseley residents demonstrated their opposition to the felling of a chestnut tree on the Meteor Ford site and succeeded in stopping this work.

Two weeks previously Councillor Hendricks had stopped the removal of the tree, on the grounds that the approved plans for the site showed clearly that the tree was to be retained. Subsequently, the councillors were assured that they would be informed before any further work took place - and that more evidence would be provided as to the necessity of removing the tree. Indeed independent advice, sought by Fiona Adams of the Moseley Society, indicated that the tree was in perfect health, with as much as 200 years of life ahead of it.

On Monday Peter Wright, on behalf of the City Council, issued a press release. This stated that, due to the necessity of drilling boreholes within the root protection area of the tree, which would irrevocably damage the tree, written consent was issued by the Local Planning Authority on Feb 16th for the removal of the tree.

Following the Moseley Forum meeting on Monday, I am writing to you to ask for evidence that the boreholes have to be sited in those positions. The tree is an important landmark and Moseley residents, and Doctors from the practice that intends to move to the Medical Centre which forms part of the development, feel strongly that the tree should be retained.

Cllrs Hendricks and Straker Welds met with Council Officers on Monday who agreed to arrange a meeting with members of the community, councillors and the agent/developer. Cllr Straker Welds will also invite a Doctor from the practice mentioned above.

We hope that you will inform Tesco’s agent/developer that, despite the existing planning consent, the contractor must not remove the tree before this meeting has taken place.

With best wishes from
Esther Boyd on behalf of David Isgrove, Moseley Forum Chair

Copied to Gareth Stuttard at Wake Green Surgery, Moseley+Kings Heath councillors, Moseley CDT and Moseley Forum

To be sent separately to Waheed Nazir and Peter Wright - and to Tyler Parkes with a request that they forward it to Tesco