Huge ‘Jack & the Beanstalk' tree towers over our homes – it's grotesque & irresponsible… but council won't chop it down
Residents in Winchester, Hants, slammed the "grotesquely irresponsible" and "ludicrous" 45 foot high oak.
9
9
9
They say the tree was planted around 50 years ago by a previous homeowner on Canon Street who just "wanted something to do".
But now it has branched into an "out of proportion" eyesore which overshadows the gardens of nearby properties - where the average house price is more than £600,000.
However, the council have refused to cut it down and placed it under a protection order.
The authorities said residents from a neighbouring street "appreciated" the tree.
The decision has sparked outrage among locals who are actually dealing with the daily repercussions of such an overwhelming tree.
Orla Williams, 40, moved into her terraced Grade II Listed home with her partner around two years ago.
The doctor said after moving in, several residents went to her about the oak.
She explained: "They were concerned that it is getting very large and that it could cause damage to their properties and potentially harm to people if it gets any larger, so they wanted it to be taken down.
"We applied to the council to have it removed and someone came to look at it.
"[The tree officer] said that they want to put a tree protection order on it."
The mum-of-two also told how an "awful lot of detritus" falls from the tree in autumn and winter.
She added: "We appreciate that the tree is beautiful but it's the wrong tree in the wrong place.
"It is quite sad to remove something like that but it is only going to get bigger and potentially cause damage to lots of properties which is the main concern.
"The council said they were concerned about removing it because it's one of the only trees in the area.
9
9
9
"All of the local residents seem to be of the opinion that unfortunately, it's the wrong tree in the wrong place."
According to a council report, the tree officer visited Orla after receiving notice from the couple that it was due to be felled.
But he found the tree met the criteria for a provisional protection order, which was issued in February of this year.
A Winchester County Council meeting will take place next week to decide whether the tree status will change or not.
There are nine residents in total who have objected to the order.
Mark Pocock, a retired resident living on Canon Street, slammed the council's decision to protect the tree as "ludicrous".
He said: 'As trees grow older they become more brittle.
"If it were to fall and damage properties or persons, I would say the responsibility would be entirely with the council – not the owners of those properties.
"I think putting a tree protection order on is grotesquely irresponsible of the council.
'It could be a danger to property and life."
Nick Goff, 80, said he fears if the tree continues to grow, the roots underneath will damage a medieval wall in his garden, which was built in the Tudor era.
The retired British Airways pilot said: "The issue is that in 10 years time, that will be double the height and double the width.
'It put on six feet last year it it's going to put on another six feet this year."
He commissioned an independent report from a tree consultancy business.
The report stated while the tree, which is still a "teenager" is in "good physiological condition".
But the officer also found it is "a large sized tree in a very small area" and so the tree protection order is "unjustified".
The report also stated "the possibility of longer term damage to the retaining walls and footings of the adjacent properties as entirely foreseeable".
"Some guy planted this as something to do 40 years ago," Mr Goff continued "Now, we have got Jack and the Beanstalk.
"It's not a historic tree – it's a silly mistake."
However, the council report issued ahead of next week's meeting claimed these concerns were "speculative" and the tree "contributes meaningfully to local biodiversity and visual amenity".
It added: "It is also the last significant tree in an area of land between Canon Street and St Swithun's Street, enhancing the character of the conservation area."
Retired resident Graham Rule, 62, blasted the decision as "irresponsible".
He said: "We all love trees but that shouldn't be there.
"The people who want the protection order, they don't live here – its totally irresponsible."
Winchester County Council was contacted for comment.
9
9
9
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Wakefield museum tour guides' pay demands 'unaffordable'
The National Coal Mining Museum has confirmed that 40 members of staff will strike due to ongoing disputes over workers, who are mostly guides leading underground tours at the site in Wakefield, will walk out from Wednesday until 14 September, with further action planned if an agreement is not union, Unison, said museum managers proposed an uplift of 80p an hour or 5% for all workers, whichever would be the greater, but this was an "inferior offer".A spokesperson for the museum said it was "saddened" by its pay offer being rejected by the union, adding the industrial action meant its underground tours would not run during this time. The spokesperson said that during the strike period, "the museum will remain open and continue to share the important history of coal mining with our visitors".It added: "The majority of our workforce of over 100 people are not in Unison and do not support the industrial action. "It is largely made up of the museum guides who deliver our underground tours. Only 28 Unison members out of the 39 who voted in the original ballot, did so in favour of industrial action."After further negotiations and serious consideration, mindful of the wellbeing of our wider workforce and our visitors, the museum proposed an increased offer to all staff of 80p per hour or 5%, whichever is the greater." 'Simply unaffordable' The spokesperson added their offer would have equated to a pay rise of more than 6% for many of its workers, but it was "rejected" by the union, who "refused to share our revised offer with their members to see if they wished to accept it".They went on to say that the museum also relied on external funding and donations and "continues to face considerable financial pressures"."As a charity, our trustees feel this offer is fair and the counter-claim by Unison, which equates to over 8%, for many, is simply unaffordable," the spokesperson said"It would jeopardise people's jobs across the organisation and threaten the long-term sustainability of the museum. That counter-claim was suggested by Unison as part of the negotiation process and was at no point agreed."It is our intention to keep an open dialogue with Unison, with the sincere hope that this offer along with the many additional benefits included will be accepted to benefit our staff as a whole." Unison previously said the pay offer should be 5% or £1 an hour more, whichever is union added that it met with museum managers through the arbitration service Acas on Friday with the hopes that a revised figure could be agreed to put to staff as this would have suspended the Hooley, Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser, said the offer from the museum showed "how little managers value staff"."If museum managers actually care about their staff, they'll improve the offer. Unison is happy to meet right away to resolve this. That would allow families to enjoy the museum and its facilities throughout the summer holidays. "But until they are willing to do so, staff have no option but to strike." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
The Rev Janet Jackson obituary
My friend Janet Jackson, who has died aged 79, spent more than a decade as lead chaplain at St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle upon Tyne, and later set up a bereavement service for the Tynedale Hospice at Home in Hexham, Northumberland. Her work supporting the bereaved touched thousands of people in the north-east of England and she was a pillar of support for many during the most difficult periods of their lives. Janet was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, as one of the seven children of Arthur Clarke and his wife, Ella (nee Straw), who were both bakers. She attended Bolling girls' grammar school in Bradford and met her future husband, Michael Jackson, on a trolley bus when they were young teenagers. Marrying in 1966, they lived in London and Hong Kong for a while before returning to the UK, where Janet worked as an office administrator while raising their family and Michael was a civil engineer until becoming a Church of England priest in 1984. After gaining a social work qualification in her 30s from Newcastle Polytechnic (now Northumbria University), Janet became a social worker for Durham county council until she felt called to the Church of England ministry herself. Following an ordination course in Durham she held a brief curacy at Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, before becoming lead chaplain at St Oswald's, spending 14 years in that role and finding her true vocation working with people facing life crises. In addition she provided training to others, from medical students to clergy, on how to offer spiritual care for the dying. In 2007 Janet retired from St Oswald's to Hexham, where she set up the bereavement service at Tynedale Hospice at Home and also founded Rainbows, a group providing care for children whose siblings have died, as well as Forever Parents, a lifeline for parents coping with grief. She conducted services alongside Michael at Hexham Abbey and worked on a part-time basis with the groups she had founded. Her services to those who have been bereaved were recognised in 2019 with a British Empire Medal. She is survived by Michael, their children, Becky, Mike, Emma and Di, and grandchildren Jo, Ellis, Yasmin, Lily, Lal, Lola and Joanie.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
A D-Day veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday at the museum of his old regiment in Aberdeen after receiving his coveted message from the King. Jim Glennie turned 100 on Tuesday and a number of his family and friends gathered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum where he volunteers. Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'
