residents concerned about East Hampshire District Council’s imposition of a temporary blanket tree preservation order (TPO) have received individual letters of reassurance from leader Ferris Cowper.

People living in Kingswood Firs, Mowatt Road and Tudor Close, in Gayshott, were notified a six-month provisional TPO?had been placed on the whole estate – from June 30 – to protect trees while an assessment was carried out to identify individual trees or groups that should be safeguarded permanently.

The action was taken following a request by Grayshott Parish Council in response to concerns raised following the felling of a number of trees in a Kingswood Firs garden over a weekend.

Residents were informed by EHDC it would be conducting a survey on consecutive Fridays to “identify the most important trees that have a significant contribution in the local landscape” and written permission would be required if any tree work was planned up until Christmas.

Council staff told residents who objected they would be unable to carry out any sustainable woodland management over the period, but the TPO did not prevent all tree work.

Consent would “normally” be granted for work necessary or appropriate or which would not “harm the health or amenity value of the tree(s)”.

Mr Cowper (pictured), who is the village’s ward member, sent a letter to each of the 132 households affected.

He said: “Almost every house in Kingswood Firs, Mowatt Road and Tudor Close plus some in Crossways Road and Stoney Bottom, has been advised that EHDC has secured an area tree preservation order, covering that property.

“The exceptions are those plots whose trees are already covered by a TPO.

“I think you are entitled to an explanation and I’m sorry the legal documents did not include one.

“Also, I am increasingly upset at the legalistic replies some of you are getting from the council. So here is my explanation to you, my neighbours.

“The trigger was a major building project early this year, which razed to the ground 36 trees in Kingswood Firs that made a ‘huge difference to the landscape’ as one person commented.

“I am aware of a continuous rumbling of discontent that ‘nothing is being done’ to protect the natural character of the area. The district council has a legal duty to protect ‘important trees’ from destruction and faces legal consequences should it fail in that duty.

“On the day of the placing of the order another very large stand of trees was saved from destruction, many of them important I am advised. The need is therefore manifest.”

Mr Cowper explained the temporary TPO did not apply to shrubs and hedges, and that there was no intention of extending it beyond six months.

In most cases, the trees likely to get permanent protection would be the ones visible from the street, and trees that defined the character of the area, as seen from the street, he added.

His letter concluded: “During the six-month period you can still lop, prune and even cut down trees in your garden but you do need to apply for free to the council for permission to do so.

“I have been asked why was there no consultation or pre-discussion. In fact I did discuss it with the parish council on March 20, at their full council, and it was also in my public report to them that day.

“However, keeping these things low key is deliberate.

“The council’s overwhelming experience is in the past when a possible TPO has been indicated, the affected trees have been cut down before the TPO could be applied. Obviously that makes it pointless.

“In my opinion it’s most unlikely the council would protect or enforce against the loss of insignificant trees, such as saplings.

“It’s quite possible many gardens will have no TPOs at all. Overall, yes, for six months this is going to be inconvenient and irritating for many residents, and in the case of the planned mass removal I referred, more than that.

“But the objective is to offer a reasonable level of protection to only the most important trees that have the greatest impact on the character of the area where we live. My judgement is this balance is worth it.”