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From left: neighbours Brenda and John Evans, Brenda and Bill Crawford and Anthony and Sandi Smith from Droitwich stand in the Crawfords' garden in front of the oak tree. 20393102

A ROW has erupted over an oak tree after a tree preservation order (TPO) was lifted by Wychavon District Council only to be immediately slapped back on by Worcestershire County Council.

Angry people living in the tree's shadow say the decision is heartless and the tree is ruining their quality of life.

One Wychavon district councillor also accused the county council of trying to overrule the decision of the district council.

Coun Graham Gopsill said: "It's sneaky. I think it's totally wrong."

The TPO, imposed last September, was lifted last month after Wychavon councillors were told people in Ledwych Gardens, Droitwich, suffered from a lack of light, leaves and wasps.

The tree, which may be an English or Turkish oak, is on the boundary of Westacre Middle School and overshadows Bill and Brenda Crawford's home.

Mrs Crawford said: "We were very pleased the TPO was lifted. We are not only concerned about the growth upwards we are concerned with what's underground. It's only 35 feet from our house to the tree."

Mr Crawford said: "It's not only the loss of light we object to, it's the green aphids, they leave all this sticky stuff everywhere."

After the order was lifted, the couple asked to go on school land to access the tree but were refused and, days later, Worcestershire County Council imposed a new TPO.

The Crawfords' neighbour John Evans added: "It seems very heartless. The district council accepted our arguments before and now it's been re-imposed. I think it's a form of bullying."

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said there was no justification for felling the tree which was a valuable part of the county's heritage.

He said: "As both landowner and planning authority we were concerned to ensure that such action was prevented in order that alternative management options for the tree could be properly considered."

Any objections can be made before Monday, June 2.

The school did not respond to a request from your Worcester News for a comment.

10:00am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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