If printing, set printer to landscape |
ENFORCEMENT - TREES ON WAYLEAVE (Updated October 2006) |
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| The above photo was taken from Straid Rd. The
dotted white line in the above photo shows the (below ground) route of
the main sewers and storm water pipes. On the ground above this route
should be a 6 metre (18ft.) wide 'wayleave' where no trees should be
planted. |
| (A “Wayleave” in this context is an area of land to be kept
free of obstacles above a pipe line for maintenance and “imposing
a restriction on the landowners not to prejudice the integrity of the sewer”). |
| WHAT HAS BEEN PLANTED? - trees as this photo shows. (Particularly in
the background) |
Yes I agree the positioning of these trees is vital to help mask the
backs of these dwellings from the Straid Road. But should they be planted
here? A point I made to the Divisional Planning Officer way back in 2004
in the early stage of the building of this development
"Why have
you included in the Decision Notice (condition number 8 for 0248)
a condition that advocates planting a row of trees directly above
a sewer line and well within the 6m wayleave? ... I note the
trees recommended for this location are Alnus Glutinosa, (Common
Alder) which according to my Tree books can grow up to 70 feet
tall.! |
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| To which the Divisional Planning Manager replied (three months later!)... |
"Landscaping
will obviously take account of the position of services on the
site. " |
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| From this photograph it doesn't look as if they have "obviously
taken account" of the services. |
| So, in August of 2006, intrigued by why this developer had been allowed
to flaunt a rule to which the rest of Ulster has to conform, I wrote two
letters, one to the Enforcement Department of the Coleraine Planning Service
and the other to the Water Service. Their replies sum up the difference
in approach to our planning requirements. |
| The Planning Service wrote to me as follows: |
“Following an investigation of your complaint,
I can confirm that (this alleged non compliance) complies with the
conditions of the planning permission granted by the Department….” |
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| So in other words - the trees can stay on top of the sewers. |
| Whereas the Water Service replied that ... |
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“Water Service have had a meeting with
the Developer and he has agreed to remove the trees from within the
Wayleave. Thank you for bringing this to our attention”. |
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Enforcement? What enforcement? So just what is the regulating role of
the Coleraine Sub-Divisional Planning Office? Answers please in a brown
envelope. |
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