Mansbridge Open Space

These works shown by the red polygon (Fig. 2) were apparently done in 2017 but do not show on the planning map above (Fig. 1). The Southampton Tree officer denies any knowledge of these works despite the land being owned by Southampton City Council and within the Itchen Valley Conservation area. There is no evidence that this is within the 'operational land' of the airport. It appears that the City Council itself may have done these works and that there would therefore have been no need to apply or notify itself in this case. It seems likely that the airport told the City to do the work and the reasons given were not questioned. "Penetrating the safeguarded surfaces" does not mean the trees were unsafe. It just means that aircraft need to be aware of their existence in order to avoid them. As with Marlhill Copse, The airport seems to have been allowed to be be judge jury and executioner.

As can be seen in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 , there is a belt of trees on the north side of the M27, on the east edge of the pictures. This is also within the Southampton City Boundary but does not appear on the TPO map [PROW meeting 12.3.19]. I wrote to the Tree Officer on 3.05.19 asking how best to protect thee trees. I have been given a reference log of 5002140 but no answer since then.