SPC requests permanent Tree Preservation Order on woodland in Saltford

Update – 1 November 2022

Saltford Parish Council is pleased to share that the temporary Tree Preservation Order on mixed deciduous woodland in Saltford has now been made permanent.

B&NES Council confirmed today that the permanent TPO had been made without any objections or modifications.

Saltford PC strongly welcomes this action to preserve this ecologically significant woodland in the village, which is valued as part of the area’s character and setting.

Original article (7 September 2022)

Saltford Parish Council has responded to a consultation by B&NES Council, requesting that a temporary Tree Preservation Order on woodland in Saltford be made permanent. A copy of SPC’s full response can be found in bold below. Members of the public can also respond to the consultation (details also below).

Concerns were raised to the attention of B&NES Council regarding tree loss at the parcel of land referred to as ‘Partis Hill’ which adjoins the Bath Road, The Folly and Uplands Road (see map). It is described as mixed deciduous woodland with mature trees. The woodland is clearly visible from the A4 Bath Road, especially on the approach into Saltford from the direction of Bath, as well as from nearby residential areas. The area is recognised as being a wildlife habitat for many species including bats.

Following a site visit by B&NES Council’s Senior Arboricultural Officer in August B&NES Council issued a temporary Tree Preservation Order (TPO) to prevent further tree loss at this location. B&NES Council made the Order because ‘the woodland is considered to contribute towards the green infrastructure of the area; has sufficient visual amenity and forms an important skyline feature. The selling of the woodland and recent activities has resulted in requests for the woodland to be considered for protected.’

The order came into force on a temporary basis on 10th August 2022, and will remain in force for six months. During this time B&NES Council will decide whether the Order should be given permanent status.

SPC discussed its response to the TPO consultation about this at its September 2022 meeting (item 14). SPC resolved to request and support the temporary Tree Preservation Order becoming permanent. A copy of SPC’s resolved full response, including reasons for its decision, is as follows:

Saltford Parish Council welcomes and strongly supports the TPO (Woodland to west of 562-578 Bath Road, Saltford No. 12, within the parcel of land between Bath Road, Uplands Road and The Folly) made on 10th August 2022 and asks B&NES Council that this TPO be made permanent. This request is made for the following reasons:-

· This area of woodland contributes towards the green infrastructure of the area and has ecological value, e.g., it provides a safe and secluded habitat for bats, and is protected by B&NES Placemaking Plan (2017) policies CP7 (Green Infrastructure), D2 (Local Character and Distinctiveness), NE5 (Ecological Networks) and NE6 (Trees and Woodland Conservation);

· it has an important visual amenity for this area of Saltford as approached from Bath on the Bath Road (A4) as well as for adjacent properties and in particular those with gardens that back onto and surround this woodland, whilst forming an important skyline feature and thus contributing to B&NES Placemaking Plan (2017) policy NE2 (a) (Conserving and Enhancing the Landscape and Landscape Character) where that policy applies to landscape and visual settings of settlements; and

· to reduce the risk that trees may be removed as a precursor to a planning application for development infilling. Replacing this woodland area with a property development would adversely affect the character and setting for the Bath Road at this location, Uplands Road and The Folly as protected by B&NES Placemaking Plan (2017) policy D2 (Local Character and Distinctiveness) (a) (local character including spacing) and (d) (natural features including landscape, green infrastructure, skylines, topography and landform and views).

Saltford Parish Council’s draft minutes from the September 2022 meeting will be made available here on its website c.14 September.

How to respond to the consultation

B&NES Council’s reference for the consultation is ‘Woodland to west of 562-578 Bath Road, Saltford No. 12 (TPO 10.8.2022)’. A formal copy of the notice and information about a consultation for the TPO to be made permanent can be found on the B&NES Council website here. The public consultation is open until 16 September 2022.

Representations about whether the temporary TPO should be given permanent status can be submitted in writing by email to dm@bathnes.gov.uk or else by letter to:

Jane Brewer, Senior Arboricultural Officer,

B&NES Council, Planning and Conservation,

Lewis House,

Manvers Street,

Bath,

BA1 1JG

Please use reference ‘‘Woodland to west of 562-578 Bath Road, Saltford No. 12 (TPO 10.8.2022)’ in any correspondence and supply a name and address (these will remain confidential; anonymous comments will not be considered).

At its full council meeting Saltford Parish Council acknowledged B&NES Ward Cllr Duncan Hounsell’s considerable efforts and liaison with residents regarding this matter.