Pensioner calls for 300-year-old tree to be axed
Siew Peng Lee • Published 10 Aug 2012 15:02
19 Comments
A 'HERITAGE' tree believed to be one of the oldest in Fife faces the chop after falling branches caused £98,000 of damage to a house in Crossford.
Management company Greenbelt tabled a planning application to fell the "storm damaged" sycamore on its land at Keavil Farm Steadings.
Pensioner James Lightfoot (71) wants to see it axed but conservationists are pleading for the "landmark" tree, believed to be 300 years old, to stay.
Mr Lightfoot's Mochrum Drive house suffered £98,000 of damage after being hit by falling branches - first in last May's gale-force winds and again during December's 'hurricane'.
He said, "I've been complaining to Greenbelt since 2007.
"The branches really started to come off two years ago and from then it's accelerated.
"Every time there's a wind we start to worry. People walking past have found branches falling off.
"Greenbelt recognises that it's a danger to the public, that's why they want to remove it.
"Branches have been falling in my garden and the last branch that fell off just missed a lady in her car coming along the drive - another 30 feet and she'd have been hit.
"A lot of people pick up their speed when they walk past the tree now."
If the tree stays, Mr Lightfoot fears he could be even further out of pocket.
He said, "I couldn't even claim the second time it happened because the insurance company renegotiated the contract after the first incident and I was liable for the first £5000.
"If Fife Council refuse the planning permission, do they accept full liability and damages to my house in the future?
"If they say no, they have to accept the liability."
Tree reports undertaken by Greenbelt and Fife Council state the 22 metres high (72 feet) sycamore is in good condition.
However, the council's report adds it "occupies a relatively high-risk location and is within potential falling distance of a number of obvious and immovable targets", with "a potential risk of injury or structural damage".
The application has received four online objections, among them from the Woodland Trust.
Angus Yarwood, the trust's government affairs manager, urged the council to reject the application and preserve the tree.
He said, "The tree has previously been identified by Fife Council as important and it is subject to a Tree Preservation Order.
"The tree is likely to be one of Fife's oldest trees and as such is a very important heritage tree."
He suggested an "alternative approach", saying, "We understand that there are no remaining limbs overhanging adjacent buildings and therefore the risk of further damage is much reduced.
"Instead of felling the tree we believe that the tree could be managed by crown reduction and therefore remain in situ and continue to provide great benefit to the community for many years."
Judy Dowling, lead verifier of the Ancient Tree Hunt, a project run by the trust, called it an "amazing example of a tree circa 300-years-old".
She commented, "It is the largest sycamore in terms of girth in Fife, making it a champion tree for the ATH and also for the Tree Register of the British Isles."
Barry McBride, a tree surgeon, objected, "It is a landmark tree of great historic, cultural and amenity value.
"It is recorded as one the biggest sycamores in Fife and it would be a crime to fell it and lose it not only for the present but for future generations."
In response to the concerns, Mr Lightfoot said, "The health and safety of people is beyond that of a tree.
"They're not living with the threat of the tree falling on their house."
He added, "Trees shouldn't be knocked down willy-nilly but if they're a danger to people they should go, that's the bottom line."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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B2theB
144 posts
Aug 10, 16:05
Report comment"Branches have been falling in my garden and the last branch that fell off just missed a lady in her car coming along the drive - another 30 feet and she'd have been hit.
Really ?
30 feet ?
Wow !
Way to over-dramatize things !!
Leave the tre, chop down his house. Old moaner.
Recommend?
Yes 36
No 18
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cutiefox12
33 posts
Aug 10, 19:08
Report commentdifferent view if it was your house or street, oh and by the way cars can move thirty feet fast. Next time we have strong winds I dare you to stand next to the tree.
Recommend? Yes 23
No 26
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kaka30
309 posts
Aug 11, 08:29
Report commentI certainly dont want to see trees of this importance just felled on a whim but you can see Mr Lightfoots point of view.
If his house & property is being destroyed & the tree poses a potential threat to public safety then i think it has to go.
I think we all remember the recent high winds which are becoming more common & the destruction they caused.
Recommend? Yes 18
No 16
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shurely72
184 posts
Aug 11, 09:46
Report commentthe tree was there before the house! say no more
Recommend? Yes 31
No 11
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Aug 11, 14:02
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hazelkaye
316 posts
Aug 11, 18:53
Report commentThe tree is clearly much MUCH older than the house!
This is on a par with the N.I.B.M.Y.S. complaining about the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line - built (and intended for reopening) long before any of their new housing sprang up, trackside, at Causewayhead and Clackmannan etc
Recommend? Yes 18
No 2
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DunfermlineEast
137 posts
Aug 11, 19:15
Report commentThe man has a reputation for being a whinger. He has chosen to focus on this tree when it has done no harm. There was little damage to is house from the branches that fell during the worst storm in 100 years, certainly not £98K, which is more than the rebuild value of his house!! Keep the house, get rid of the foaming at mouth pensioner with way too much time on his hands.
Recommend? Yes 24
No 3
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auldgreytoun
2 posts
Aug 12, 04:05
Report commentI don't know much about this case but if the house is not listed i say the protection lies with the tree. If the building is some 60's or later monstrosity then the tree gets my vote.
Recommend? Yes 14
No 3
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kaka30
309 posts
Aug 12, 10:07
Report commentThere is a lot on people siding with the tree here but i doubt they would have the same opinion if it was their house that was under threat. Im all for conservation but if that was my house the tree would be gone by now.
Recommend? Yes 7
No 14
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B2theB
144 posts
Aug 12, 12:06
Report commentMany of us realise that having a house in close proximity to trees is a known risk.
It's all very well buying your house in an idyllic tree-lined cul de sac, but it's pretty obvious that trees and wind don't mix. He should maybe have thought of that first.
His attitude reminds me of all the folks who moved near the RAF base at Leuchars, then complained about the noise of the jets.
the thing you are complaining about has been there a LONG time before you. Do your research before you buy a house. Don't buy it, THEN find potential problems
I'm also with the other poster who finds the £98,000 damages claim a little hard to justify after a few branches falling.
What is his roof made of ? Are the tiles pure Swarowski (sp) crystals or something ??
If the tree is unstable and dangerous to lives, then yes, cut it down, but if it just loses branches in the wind, (in a similar fashion to other trees), then leave it alone.
If he doesn't like it, he should move.
Simple as that.
Save the tree !!
Recommend? Yes 23
No 3
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MaxPhallus
3 posts
Aug 13, 14:09
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Calimero
68 posts
Aug 13, 14:49
Report commentIsn't this kind of like moving into a house next to train tracks then complaining about the noise?!?! As for the £98k damage, exaggeration for the story me thinks.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 1
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midge1
53 posts
Aug 14, 00:50
Report commentlife is life and if tree is showing signs of tress then take a pic to keep the tree huggers happy ,and get on with life ,if only we were so concerned about our old folks. NOTHING LIVES FOREVER
Recommend? Yes 8
No 5
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SmarmyGit
314 posts
Aug 14, 14:27
Report commentFor Pitys sake, the usual armchair warriors are making assumptions before they are furnished with facts! The entire side of the guys house was destroyed.........twice! The insurance co will not fund any more repairs if the tree remains.........what would you do if you lived there, eh?????
I know if my house was under threat i'd want the tree removed, its all very well saying the tree was there hundreds of years before the house but you might as well say that about any new development of a town/houses etc.
The tree is old, storm damaged and is coming down itself, in an ideal world if the tree was in open woodland or in an area that didn't threaten life and limb then the tree would come down of its own accord over time, however as it stands its dangerous, not only the the guys house but to passers by, if it was an unstable/dangerous building that was threatening peoples safety the same nay-sayers would be blaming the cooncil for doing nowt about it and putting peoples lives at risk.
Worst case scenario, woman is driving past the tree with her 3 kids in the car, massive branch breaks loose and crushes car killing occupants, what then?
Recommend? Yes 8
No 6
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DunfermlineEast
137 posts
Aug 14, 17:22
Report comment@SmarmyGit
Read the articel- "Tree reports undertaken by Greenbelt and Fife Council state the 22 metres high (72 feet) sycamore is in good condition. "
It is not coming down by itself. It is not dangerous. The man's house was not destroyed and you know it. The man is playing the paper for a fool. There is no road for someone to be driving past with kids...it is at the end of his garden and he wants to use the land to build a garage. He has played you for a fool and you are dancing.
Recommend? Yes 7
No 4
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bicyclebob
159 posts
Aug 14, 18:48
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SmarmyGit
314 posts
Aug 14, 20:33
Report commentAwww, thats nice.....
Anyhoo, Dunny East you have access to some facts that the rest of us don't?
Recommend? Yes 7
No 4
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DunfermlineEast
137 posts
Aug 14, 21:08
Report commentDude, I know someone who knows someone and the man. He has laid claim to the land around the tree since he moved in. Greenbelt, the factors, maintain it the tree and charge all the owners. Everytime this nutter moans about the tree and they get another survey done, it costs all the owners a 4 figure sum. Every time a twig falls onto his grass he moans. He wants rid of it to build a detached garage according to my source.
Recommend? Yes 6
No 4
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Geedoc
23 posts
Aug 17, 07:06
Report commentHmmmn,seems like DunfermlineEast has done a tad more investigative journalism the the "Press" has ??? .......is this news ???
I was abducted by aliens last Tuesday afternoon,I escaped and got home just in time for tea.
Recommend? Yes 1
No 2
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