Marlborough House, Falmouth application to fell beech trees

The owner of Marlborough House, Falmouth wants to remove eight beech trees opposite the front of the house on Silverdale Road at its junction with Marlborough Road to ensure public safety.

Christopher Lee, the owner of the house since 2015, has applied to Cornwall Council to remove the trees despite them having Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on them saying they are a hazard to public spaces.

In his application to remove the trees from the area known as G3 he says they will be replaced by eight new trees including Sessile Oak, Hornbeam, beech and Small Leaf Lime.

The view of the trees from Marlborough Road. Picture Google Maps

He says because of concerns from neighbours about the condition of the trees he ordered a tree survey in 2019. It found that the trees had a sparse crown due to climatic exposure and drought stress as well as identifying Honey Fungus and Meripilus, a fungus which causes white rot in trees.

"Trees from within G3 have previously failed onto our neighbour’s property at 58 Marlborough Avenue," says Mr Lee in his application. "Our neighbour is quite rightly worried about the remaining trees and has stated her ongoing distress and anxiety caused by the trees."

Commenting on the application on Cornwall Council's planning portal one neighbour said she fully supported the application saying one of these trees had fallen on her house a few years ago flattening a car.

"It's only a matter of time before one falls and kills someone," she said. "The larger ones are only a few meters from our house and this group of three houses we live in. Plus they make high winds terrifying for us worried another tree will fall. The trees were deemed safe yet they still fell. More trees over the road have fallen too."

READ NEXT:

Any complaints over BMX repairs should be directed at me says councillor

Another neighbour, David Bone backed her saying the trees must come down as they could injure pedestrians, including children going to school.

"We have already seen damage from similar trees falling from the neighbouring stand, including the crushing of a parked vehicle," he said. "If it had been occupied there would have been fatalities. There have also been falling branches and as Silverdale Rd is a popular route for pedestrians, often taking children to Marlborough School, it won't be long before someone is injured or worse."

In addition, he said, any tree falling from this stand would potentially damage Marlborough St. Jude which is Grade 11 Listed.

However another neighbour said he objected to their removal on the basis that the property owner hasn't considered the options his professional tree consultant has recommended in the detailed tree report relating to the beech trees.

"This group of trees is huge in terms of habitat, bio-diversity and amenity value," he said. "It is a prominent feature in the landscape in an urban environment, part of a green corridor and in an area already under pressure from extensive tree loss.

He said the applicant saying he will plant small young trees in their place is just "not good enough"

Marlborough House was built in 1810 for John Bull, a Packet service captain, who named the building after his ship the Duke of Marlborough.

It is a grade II* listed, three storey country house, which features a relief of the ship in a central bay on the front of the building.

Bull's ship engaged in action while out on service, including one occasion when it was mistaken for an enemy off Cape Finisterre and battled HMS Primrose, which came off worse despite outmanning and outgunning the Packet vessel, and the captain was awarded a ceremonial sword for his bravery.