A COUNCIL'S decision to prevent a "striking" tree from being felled has been upheld, despite it blocking light for residents.

Bournemouth council had enforced a Tree Protection Order on the Lawson Cypress at 2 Nelson Road, which applicant Gary Fletcher claimed was preventing direct sunlight from reaching the flats at Trafalgar Mews.

At appeal, planning inspector Richard Duggan said despite sympathising with the residents the tree was too valuable to lose.

"Although the appeal tree can only be glimpsed from the main road due to the existence of other trees, it is nevertheless a striking feature when viewed from Nelson Road and adjacent dwellings," he said.

"I sympathise with the appellant and other residents that the tree has a very dominating outlook due to its height and width of canopy, and that it does reduce natural light into the properties at certain times of the day.

"Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that this loss of light is not excessive enough to justify felling this tree."

Also, he said, Trafalgar Mews was a "recent modern development" which had been designed around the retention of the tree, and "property owners would have purchased their dwellings in the full knowledge of the existence of the tree".