Letter to Daniel Docker, “tree officer”, Planning and Building Control Services, TWBC


This letter was endorsed and signed by 12 residents.
6 weeks later a reminder was sent by one resident.
Only this resident did get an answer!

25 October 2000

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Planning Office, attention Mr. Daniel Docker
Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS


Application for a Tree Preservation Order for the group of trees suituated in York Road,
south side, between Trinity House and No 27.

Dear Mr. Docker,

The above group consists of ten (10) mature trees with circumferences between 17" = 432 mm to 31" = 787 mm.

They can be identified as
four (4) Sorbus Aria (White Beam)
three (3) Acer Platanoides Atropurpureum (Maple)
three (3) Juglans (Walnut) of unknown variety

The trees make a significant impact on their local surroundings and are under immediate danger to be destroyed in connection with the possible re-development of the Telephone House.

In their objection to the last Planning Application for this site, well over 50 residents stated in their letters to the Planning Department, that they consider the trees as a feature. The trees should be integrated into any forthcoming development. With their comment they followed the advice given to them by officers of your department, who thought the trees were protected under the schemes of the Conservation Area.

In their recommendations to the Western Area Planning Committee, the officers dealing with Planning Application TW/00/01474/FUL/RCC did not follow the line which was set earlier in the refusal letter to Application TW/99/02211:

" 4. The proposal would involve the removal of significant trees which would be contrary to Policy EN1(3) of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan 1996. "

Therefore I ask you to consider an order coming into effect immediately which will continue for six months or until confirmed, which ever comes first. (Reference: DETR Pub. 18.05.2000)

I trust that my request will be afforded serious consideration.

Yours sincerely,



Reminder - letter to Daniel Docker, "tree officer", Planning and Building Control Services, TWBC

8 December 2000

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Planning Office attention Mr. Daniel Docker
Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS

Application for a Tree Preservation Order for the group of trees situated in York Road,
south side, between Trinity House and No 27.


Dear Mr. Docker,

Together with several other residents I wrote requesting that a Tree Preservation Order be placed on a group of mature trees in YORK ROAD (on the south side between Trinity House and Number 27).

These have been identified as:
- four (4) Sorbus Aria (White Beam)
- three (3) Acer Platanoides Atropurpureum (Maple)
- three (3) Juglan (Walnut) of unknown variety.

I should be grateful if you would inform us what decision you have reached regarding the preservation order of these trees.

Yours sincerely,

Margaret Naylor



Response from Daniel Docker, tree officer, TWBC

There was once a group of TREES on Telephone House site
between Trinity House and No. 27 York Road