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There is an interesting app that measures aircraft noise and builds a database of observations: "Explane" available on Google Play and AppStore https://explane.org/
The 797th Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Peter Baillie, was presented with the following proposal on 31st May 2019. He attached his seal to this document countersigned by the Friends of Marlhill Copse, Friends of the Earth and Extinction Rebellion.
Your comments would be welcome on the following draft of a motion that I have asked Cllr. David Fuller to consider making to the Council:
"Declaration of intent:
To make Southampton a Tree Preservation Zone – A Cross Party Initiative
To include tree preservation as an interim primary protocol in all City Council decisions with immediate effect.
Launch a survey of all trees within City boundaries to include up to date and accurate Tree Map of TPOs. This survey to be completed as soon as possible, within budgetary restraints, but priority to be given to trees felt to be at risk. All trees within existing group TPOs and Conservation areas should become specified. If legally required, the process of declaring new TPOs to be started on newly itemised trees. Where possible this survey to be incorporated into current officer activities.
No tree to be excluded on the presumption of exemption on the basis of an Act of Parliament. If it were legally necessary to allow planning applications on protected trees, such should be publicised by all available methods (including physical postings) with the maximum period of opportunity for public comment. Decisions on tree-related planning applications should not be delegated to officers and should be made at the appropriate committee with due reference to the primary protocol (point 1). Exceptions to this protocol would require the ratification of full council.
Shortly after the launch of the tree survey, a public declaration of intent by SCC should be made with advice to all to desist from tree-related work without advice from SCC (in case of reasonable suspicions of danger unless mitigated). Private householders to be offered council-tax credits (or time-limited free access to council facilities of their choice) – as an acknowledgement of [rather than incentive to] active citizenship, for voluntarily registering trees on their land.
A tree planting programme to be developed taking into account a baseline annual planting schedule to accommodate the longevity of trees surveyed (in point 2). Planting to proceed on a 3:1 basis on Council owned land1. Planting of trees within well-maintained verges would be welcome as an immediately visible good practice model of this policy and ‘adoption’ of these trees by immediate neighbours to help keep them watered and healthy should be encouraged. Where possible, trees to be planted as an alternative to bollards or planters in ‘filtered’ streets.
Council tax credits (or the equivalent) to be available (each year) for home owners planting one tree (nursery grade) as an acknowledgement of such a contribution. SCC should facilitate community schemes (perhaps under the canopy of ‘Our City Trees’) to provide trees for purchase on a non-profit basis.
Planting in front gardens, and avoiding paving over driveways, should be particularly encouraged to mitigate surface water run off, contribution to flash floods and overload of street drainage. In times of drought, SCC should coordinate community groups and schools in the watering of street and street-side trees (particularly the newly planted) using waste water.
Consultees and monitoring bodies: Woodland Trust; Arboricultural Association; SCAPPS; Community Associations; Environmental Groups.
We are mindful of the revenue implications of such a scheme, but suggest that these could be absorbed into broader policies to combat climate change, flooding and improve air quality in Southampton."
If Manchester can, so can Southampton
If Manchester can, so can Southampton
The following letter about Mansbridge Open Space [Mansbridge Open Space] has led to a kind invitation from the Rt. Hon. Caroline Nokes for us to meet on 17th May 2019
Dear Caroline Nokes,
I write to you as the MP for Romsey and Southampton North constituency which covers this part of Southampton - Swaythling ward.
This area is part of the Itchen Valley Conservation Area which means that applications/notifications should be made and recorded for any tree works there. The relevant authority is Southampton City Council, which also owns this land.
The following is taken from Southampton Airport's website: https://www.southamptonairport.com/about-us/aerodrome-safeguarding/ [see photo of Mansbridge Open space - Google Earth]
"Southampton Airport worked with the Highways Agency and Southampton City Council to remove a number of trees alongside the westbound carriageway of the M27 and near the airport approach lights that were penetrating the safeguarded surfaces."
However I can find no reference to these works (which presumably have already happened) on the SCC planning portal. It concerns me that approval for these works has somehow been negotiated between SCC and SIAL without any public awareness or accountability. Furthermore there are a number of trees (further south of the marked red polygon - on the periphery of the old reservoir) that have recently been paint-marked [they also show metal discs seemingly dating from a previous application] and may be under imminent threat of removal/crown-reduction.
You will note that the airport says above that the tree removal was because they were penetrating the 'safeguarded surfaces'. This is the same argument that was made to allow major tree-works at nearby Marlhill Copse (a conservation area with TPOs - in Bitterne Park) until I applied for a High Court injunction to forbid tree works there until further notice. Your colleague Royston Smith MP is aware of this. The procedure for public consultation on the main tree works was similarly obfuscatory (please see the additional information under the petition link below).
I ask you to request a briefing on Marlhill Copse (which SIAL purchased in August 2018) and Mansbridge Open Space from the Managing Director of SIAL at the next Airport Consultative Committee (21st June 2pm) and liaise with Royston Smith MP in ensuring that there is no impropriety in the handling of these issues by Southampton City Council.
I would be very pleased to discuss further, if you would find this helpful.
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