A tree has been saved by Southampton City Council after its owner received numerous complaints which he said “caused him mental health problems”.
The owner of the 14-metre-high Robina tree, located on Botany Bay Road in Southampton, received countless complaints from angry residents.
He had planned to chop down the tree following the huge number of negative comments.
However, a neighbour informed the Council who protected the tree following a council planning meeting on Tuesday, despite the homeowner objecting.
Large trees can cause disruptions for you and your neighbours (stock image)
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According to the owner, the tree blocks light, has spiky branches and is a safety risk if it falls.
He added that it has been a “dreadful experience” looking after the tree.
His surrounding neighbours agreed the tree needed to be chopped down, and began saving up funds to remove it.
But before the work could be carried out, another neighbour asked the council to protect it.
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The council’s tree officer said: “I do understand that it’s not pleasant for a resident to receive negative comments regarding a tree.”
A Tree Protection Order has been placed on the tree since July 10.
The tree’s owner said: “We are shocked to receive the TPO as we were constantly under the impression that those that lived under the effects of the tree only had one focus – that was to see it gone.”
A member of the council’s tree team told the owner that negative comments were not enough to allow the tree to be removed.
The council member said: “We cannot take negative verbal comments made to the tree owner as a legitimate reason for not protecting the tree.
“If the council were to accept this as a justified reason not to protect a tree, it would find it impossible ever to protect any tree within the city.”
The protection order was passed unanimously.
