HC Deb 09 June 1964 vol 696 cc218-9
5. Mr. Prior

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware of the disquiet caused by the indiscriminate destruction of trees; and whether he will take steps to make the felling of trees subject to planning permission.

Mr. Corfield

Local planning authorities already have power to control felling by means of tree preservation orders under Section 29 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962. Many such orders are made, and my right hon. Friend does not think that further restrictions are necessary.

Mr. Prior

Is my hon. Friend aware that, after planning permission has been given to develop an estate, often the owner-occupiers of the estate, it being their property, will fell the trees in their gardens because they are upsetting the laundry and so on, that whole areas are becoming denuded of trees on this sort of pretext, and that stronger measures are needed?

Mr. Corfield

I do not think that one could transfer this responsibility anywhere from the local authority, but I can assure my hon. Friend that where an amenity is threatened by the felling of trees an order can be provisionally confirmed very rapidly—in a matter of hours.

Mr. MacColl

Would the hon. Gentleman explain the procedure? Surely it is not much use making an order if the trees have already been felled? How is the occupier to be stopped from felling a tree while enforcement proceedings are taking place?

Mr. Corfield

If a provisional order is made, the occupier commits an offence if he continues to fell the trees. It is up to the local authority to decide where existing trees are essential to the amenity and look ahead and pass the necessary order.

Mr. Hocking

Will my hon. Friend look into the matter of tree preservation altogether? Is he not aware that in many parts of the country tree preservation orders are made on trees which really are not worth preserving and that in other places no tree preservation orders are made at all? Will he issue a directive to local authorities or try persuading them to do something really worth while?

Mr. Corfield

I am sure my hon. Friend appreciates that any tree preservation order made by a local authority requires the confirmation of my right hon. Friend in order to make it an official order, and these matters are considered very carefully before confirmation is given.