A Bradford councillor who had been granted permission by the authority to fell an oak tree in his Ilkley garden has been told he cannot cut down another.

Councillor Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) made a Tree Protection Order application to the council to remove a tree at his home on King’s Road, and another tree in the garden of a neighbouring house.

There were concerns the trees were causing damage to his home.

A geotechnical engineers’ report was submitted to the Council with the application.

Council officers said the removal of the tree in the applicant’s grounds would have detrimental impact on the area – but there was justification for its removal, and arboricultural and geotechnical evidence submitted with the application.

However, a report by officers said there was limited or no information that both trees were contributing to the damage, and no evidence presented that roots from both trees are present near the subject property.

Councillors agreed with the recommendation to grant permission for the felling of the tree at Coun Smith’s property, on condition of a tree being planted to replace it, but refused permission for the other tree to be felled.

Mr Smith said it was his insurer who made the application for both trees.

He said: “I would prefer it to stay and be pruned and we are discussing this with the insurer at the moment.

“If the tree is removed the ground will heave [rise] due to the ground taking up water again and this will cause as much damage as the tree is at the moment.”