Tree preservation order

[Lucylocket13]

Hi,
Anyone ever been able to fell a tree with a TPO attached?

Loads of TPO trees get felled, so long as there's reasonable justification. What's your reason for wanting to fell it?

My little girl has a disability and needs the extra space that felling the tree would create in the garden to improve her illness.

That would probably be a no then. The tree usually has to be diseased or dangerous.

Thanks for the reply. Not dangerous and I doubt it is diseased.

What are you planning in the space? Is it something you can build around? What species of tree is it?

Causing damage to property (subsidence etc) is another ground. Yours sounds unlikely and at best you'd be required to replace it with a relatively mature replacement.

It’s an Elm tree. I have a tiny garden and tree is in the middle of it. I would like to put a 10ft trampoline in the garden for her - it will not fit at the minute. My daughter (8) is very sick- she has cystic fibrosis and is constantly in and out of hospital. A trampoline would help clear her chest and reduce infection.

You don't need a 10 ft trampoline. My DS is a strapping 5ft.11 tall 14 year old and uses an 8ft one ( for adults). A 6ft one would be big enough for your daughter at least for a few years. Would that fit?

8ft would be a squeeze but 6ft might work- thanks for suggesting.

An elm? There's not many of those around now. You must either be in Brighton or some isolated valley elsewhere. Is it specially referenced on the TPO?

No, you can't remove them, that is what the preservation is for.
A smaller trampoline will be fine.

IME you need to get a local tree expert to apply to the council using whatever grounds the tree expert believes might work. Usually local tree surgeons know the key people in the council. You might have to pay for a full tree report, and there is no certainty the council would agree but it is worth trying.