Hospital told to scale back tree felling plans

Pinderfields Hospital was told there was "no justification" for felling three trees in its grounds

Plans to fell trees in the grounds of a West Yorkshire hospital have been scaled back after health chiefs were accused of an "overly cautious" approach to health and safety.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust had requested 24 trees in the grounds of Pinderfields Hospital be removed or made safe.

However, one objector said the trust’s plan was too “drastic”.

Wakefield Council granted permission for 14 protected trees to be removed and five others to be made safe, but said there was no reason for three others being destroyed.

The hospital made the application after a tree health assessment survey was carried out by an arborist.

His report stated: “All trees were inspected from ground level only and all comments and recommendations made have taken into account the location of each tree, their surroundings and their likely impact on persons or property.”

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, one objector expressed concerns about the plans.

They stated: “It seems to me to be an overly cautious approach to health and safety and also a drastic action to fell this many trees and do so much work on other trees.

“I would request that an independent tree expert assesses these trees.”

The hospital was allowed to either remove or prune 19 trees in its grounds

Species affected by the decision include ash, lime, oak, sycamore willow, horse chestnut and maple.

Officers agreed it was “necessary or agreeable” to fell 14 trees, but have ordered the planting of replacement trees by the end of March.

However, they said there was “no justification” to fell a sycamore and two ash trees near to the hospital.

Permission was also refused to carry out pruning work on two other trees.