Cheers! Wine-tasting back on track

Following the postponement of this ever-popular annual event I'm pleased to announce that a new date has now been agreed -- Thursday August 15th, between the hours of 6--8 pm. The event will be kindly sponsored by Savills estate agents with the wine supplied as ever by the Winery on Clifton Parade.

Westminster to take no action against Tree Agency

Following its investigation into the felling of three trees by the Tree Agency back in March Westminster Council has found that they breached planning rules by acting before before planning consent had been granted. However the Council is proposing no further action against them because it takes the view that the trees could have been lawfully removed if the Agency had waited for the necessary authorisation (indeed permission for their removal has now been granted retrospectively). .The Tree Agency has been required to give a written undertaking that no further tree works will be carried out without the requisite consent in future.

So what DID happen to those trees?

As residents will know we are in the middle of a 50-year Masterplan, approved several years ago, to remove & re-plant trees in the Garden. We also regularly pollard the trees every two years to stem their further growth.

However this year’s plan was halted mid-process in March, leaving three tree stumps & incomplete pollarding, & several residents have called for an explanation of this.

Enquiries by the Board revealed that the correct permissions had not been obtained by our tree agency which triggered an investigation by Westminster Council into a possible planning breach. If it’s found that an offence has been committed that could mean a warning or other penalty for the tree agency as being the liable party. The Garden has now had a written apology from them.

The Board will communicate the outcome to residents as soon as it has been informed by Westminster. Meanwhile it has re-assured the Council that our Garden always follows correct procedures.

The Board’s own investigation revealed that the agreed sequence of trees to be removed in the Masterplan had not been followed (which was the reason that no formal notice was given to residents) & the Board has taken the necessary action to address this.

Planning permission for pollarding has now been granted but due to the practical constraints of doing the work in the Summer months when the trees are in full leaf it has been put back to the Winter when it will be easier & less hazardous.

The remaining three stumps will be ground down to path level as soon as our tree suppliers have time in their schedule.

The Board is recommending that the whole question of the Masterplan be re-visited at our annual AGM on July 2nd. It also wants to open a discussion then on the role & responsibilities of Directors & the process by which we can ensure that every Director acts at all times in accordance with the wishes of the Board & the wider community.