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Local Government and Planning (Parkland and Windfall Development) Bill

In that case, I hope the local authority will think again. If it goes ahead with the development, I hope that it will be imaginative and find a way of preserving the tree. On suburban and urban issues, I have sympathy with the comments of the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Andrew Miller). The provisions must allow for flexibility in areas that are exposed to gales and hurricanes, where trees may be endangered, even on farmers’ fields. They must be careful to ensure that anything dangerous is dealt with or they could become liable. Local authorities would be in the same position. Although it is subject to interpretation, any legislation must be flexible enough to allow them to deal with it. We should be more imaginative about the ways in which we conserve and preserve trees. Where trees must be felled to make way for development, the developer should be obliged to replace a tree that is felled with a number of other trees, to ensure that the environment is not damaged. We can consider the Bill in detail upstairs in Committee. Clearly it needs further attention, and we will all want to table amendments, but at least let us give it the chance of going into Committee. I congratulate the hon. Lady.