PLANS to carry out work to two oak trees covered by a tree preservation order have been put forward.

The application has been submitted to St Helens Council.

It relates to two oak trees at the Ship Inn in Rainhill, on Warrington Road.

The application is currently listed as ‘awaiting decision’.

A tree preservation order is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity.

The Government’s website says an order prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage and wilful destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent.

If consent is given, it can be subject to conditions which have to be followed.

In the secretary of state’s view, cutting roots is also a ‘prohibited activity’ and requires the authority’s consent.