01-08-2025
Couple in Winnersh 'angry' as council halts tree removal plans
A woman with a rare degenerative disease has said she is angry a council halted the removal of a tree stopping her from making her home fully and John Garcia hoped to build a ramp and flat space outside their bungalow in Winnersh, Berkshire, to accommodate an electric said they needed to remove an oak tree at the end of their drive, but Wokingham Borough Council halted their plans by making a Tree Protection Order (TPO).The council has declined to comment on the case.
The couple said when they initially enquired about removing the tree they were given the green light by the they said work on felling it was halted half-way through and the local authority said it must stay, applying a TPO to what was pair said they challenged the order, but it was refused by the council."It looks ridiculous, there is no public amenity value there," Ms Garcia said.
"I can't walk, I've got limited standing, I'm hoisted and I'm cared for 24/7," Ms Garcia said."We have to use a manual ramp, which is shorter than what we need."Ms Garcia said she is forced to travel backwards down the ramp and there have been two occasions when she has "crashed off".She said it had taken some of her independence as she is unable to put the ramp out herself and always needs someone with her when leaving the house.
The BBC has seen council emails that state that in May this year officers from the local authority were still trying to confirm whether the tree belonged to Garcia said: "It's very upsetting to be honest."He said they have sent reports and pictures to the council and explained why they needed the tree removed."They're just reluctant to help," he said.
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