An insurance company that lodged an application to cut down a beloved 200-year-old oak tree belonging to an Exmouth couple has said it will no longer go ahead with the move.
LV=General Insurance said the oak tree was undermining the foundations of Linda and Scott Taylor Cantrill’s house on St John’s Road, leading to an application being filed by Property Risk Inspection Ltd on behalf of the company to chop it down.
The couple staunchly opposed the move, arguing that the company’s evidence was flawed and that the real cause of the subsidence was the red clay soil on which the house stands.
Their campaign received a major boost on Monday (August 4), when Exmouth Town Council’s planning committee unanimously voted to reject LV’s application.
This came after a report by an East Devon District Council tree officer, who concluded that there was insufficient and unreliable evidence linking the tree to the damage.
The decision was met with applause from the couple and members of the public who attended the meeting, and after 95 objections had been filed against the application.
Following the council’s decision, LV issued a statement this week, saying it had now “ruled out” removing the oak tree.
LV said it was considering “a range of options to resolve this issue”, adding that it would visit the property to re-assess the damage and discuss potential solutions.
These would include installing a root barrier and underpinning the property.
It said: “We understand the strength of feeling regarding the oak tree and can confirm that we have ruled out removing the oak tree.”
A spokesperson at LV’s parent company, Allianz UK, insisted that the oak tree was the cause of the problem but conceded that the company would no longer seek to remove it.
“Our buildings experts have surveyed the property and confirmed that an oak tree is causing the damage to the policyholder’s home, but we understand their concerns about removing it.
“After a review of this claim, we can confirm that the tree will not be removed and our experts will visit the property to discuss alternative options to resolve the problem.”
Exmouth councillor Dan Wilson, who has been actively supporting the couple, gave a cautious response to LV’s decision.
He said: “Obviously I welcome the announcement, but I’ll believe it when I see it - actions speak louder than words. I hope LV’s future conduct shows a consideration for the tree, the property and the homeowner that has been sadly missing up to now.”
Share