Protected Trees
The towns and villages of the Vale of Glamorgan are blessed
with a wealth of mature trees in gardens, woodlands and
hedgerows.
Trees make towns and villages more pleasant to live in. Aside
from their aesthetic qualities, trees give shelter against bad
weather, reduce noise and atmospheric pollution, and provide a home
for wildlife.
Protected trees
Some trees are 'protected'. The Town and Country Planning Act
(1990) gives Local Planning Authorities such as the Vale of
Glamorgan Council the power to protect trees and woodlands by
making Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
TPOs prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, toping, lopping,
wilful damage or wilful destruction of a tree or trees without the
Council's consent.
A TPO does not mean that you can never prune or fell a tree, or
that you have to wait until it dies or falls down. If you are
concerned about a tree then contact the Council and an officer will
arrange a time to meet you, inspect the tree(s) and discuss
suitable action.
Unless the tree(s) meet one of a number of exemptions then you
will have to submit a written application to the Council, detailing
the work proposed and reasons for the work. A decision notice will
be sent to you within 8 weeks from the date of the application. The
notice will provide consent or refusal of consent for the work and
may include conditions relating to new tree planting or the precise
nature of the work allowed.
There are rights of appeal against a decision if the Council
decides to refuse consent for the work.
Requests for new Tree Preservation Orders
If you wish to apply for a Tree Preservation Order because you
feel certain trees are worthy of protection or are at risk, you
should write to us providing details and a plan indicating the
location and species of the trees involved.
The trees will then be assessed and you will be contacted once a
decision has been made whether or not to make a Tree Preservation
Order.
Find out more about Trees in Conservation
Areas and Planning
Applications
Trees on road verges
Trees on road verges are usually owned and managed by the
Council and tend to be exempt from control by Tree Preservation
Orders (TPOs).
If you are concerned about trees on the road verges, please
contact the Parks Section's Arboricultural Officer on 029 2067
3000.
Contact
Tel: (01446) 704742
Assistant Planner (Trees),
Planning and Transportation Division,
The Vale of Glamorgan Council,
Dock Office,
Barry Docks,
Barry
CF63 4RT.