A LIME tree has been given protection after a household cut it leaving it looking ‘like a lollipop’.

The tree, thought to be up to 60 years old, stands at the front of a house in Pennine Road.

A deed of covenant at the former council house means residents need approval from the council before any tree work.

In 2018 the current owner contacted the council seeking permission to carry out work on the tree.

They complained about the leaf fall ‘blocking guttering’ and ‘causing a slip hazard’ and wanted to reduce the tree by 25 per cent.

The council deemed that ‘potential harm to the tree’ outweighed the problems of the fallen leaves – and said that the tree could only be cut back by 1.5 metres.

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However, in April, the council received an anonymous call to say that the owners of the house had cut the tree in such a way that it was left looking like a ‘lollipop’.

As a result of the unauthorised cutting, a permanent Tree Protection Order (TPO) was proposed to be placed on the tree.

A TPO does not mean it cannot be cut, but certifies the requirement for the house owner to ask for permission, as the tree itself is protected, as opposed to being protected merely because it sits outside an ex-council house.

Maria Mushens, the council’s tree officer, said: “The council has a green city charter and is keen to retain healthy trees across the city for the benefits that they provide.

“As this tree is the only prominent tree in the immediate area its importance is even more significant.”

The house owners objected to the TPO and said: “The reasons for our objection is because the growth and foliage of the tree has a negative impact on the surrounding area.”

The listed negative effects included the sap causing ‘damage to the ground’, the leaves causing a ‘hazard to pedestrians’, and the whole thing being ‘impossible to keep on top of’.

Because of the objection, the case had to be brought to Tuesday’s Planning and Rights of Way meeting.

In the meeting, councillors voted unanimously to protect the tree and the TPO was imposed.