The committee member responsible for trees is Denise Stanczyk, to contact her click on the contact us button above.
As part of our efforts to improve our environment we work on reducing the number of trees being removed in Cobham and Downside by commenting on planning applications for work to trees with Tree Protection Orders (TPOs), those in Conservation areas and those on development sites.
We have been liaising with Elmbridge Tree Officers to raise issues of concern and finding ways to work with them to retain and enhance the green character of Cobham and Downside. There is now an updated page on the Elmbridge council site regarding trees, visit it by clicking HERE
We also continue to raise awareness of the importance of retaining trees in our neighbourhoods with local councillors at our regular committee meetings.
Autumn 2024
The newly adopted Elmbridge Design Code (https://elmbridge.commonplace.is/) includes a section on Nature relating to Street and Urban Greening and directs that developers should refer to 'Building with Nature Standards' and Natural England's 'Green Infrastructure Framework' and that they must achieve a biodiversity net gain (BNG) with a development. The section on Enhancing the riverside, recognises the importance of the natural setting of the rivers in Elmbridge including The Mole at Cobham.
Added to that is a Development Management advice note supporting and encouraging nature in development, which requires all development to preserve, manage and enhance biodiversity and does not result in a net loss of BNG. It deters against site clearance, allowing the earlier habitat state as the baseline for assessment. You can see this by googling ‘planning and policy guidance Elmbridge’
We do hope that this will encourage developers, architects and builders to recognise and embrace the importance of Cobham's green, beneficial character for generations of residents and wildlife to come.
27th November 2022
We recently submitted a suggested Tree Strategy to Elmbridge Borough Council as a result of which we are pleased to report that they plan to produce one of their own next year.
