Tree Preservation Order WAL:4/73 - We have a TPO tree in the middle of our garden. I am writing to request to remove the TPO tree from my garden to avoid harm to people. It is a pine tree, TPO Number: WAL: 4/73. The tree drops sizeable heavy branches. Three times now this has happened whilst children have been playing in the garden, also whilst other families children have been playing in the garden. I'm very worried about what would have happened if that branch had hit any of the children, it could have been fatal. I had a tree surgeon around to look at the tree and he said that nothing stands out with the tree. There is nothing he could do to stop this happening. He said that this can happen with pine trees, they will drop branches, especially in summer. This tree is in the center of the back garden. We have other trees all around the garden (one other with TPO). I am happy to leave those as is, since I can keep children away from playing under those trees. I'm happy to pay for and plant a replacement tree at the edge or bottom of the garden, where it would be much safer. There are 5 other pines trees very close to it, which are extremely similar, and hence keep the same vista. Only one of the others has a TPO on it. I do not know why this tree would have a TPO on it, but the other identical trees do not. I have no intention of requesting anything of the other trees since they are not over the middle of any garden, they are in shrubbery space between gardens. The tree is not very visible from the road, since round the back of our house. And where you do see it, the line of site is amongst many other trees (including 5 other pines) so would vista not change. The tree only blocks the view of other trees. The change in view would only be to ourselves, and potentially one neighbor. Both views of which have other trees behind and would not change the vista. But I feel that as it stands, it is a real and present danger to our children (and us). Kind regards, Ian

5 Farleton Close Weybridge Surrey KT13 0JD