25th October 2025

To: Monitoring Officer, Stockport Council
Cc: Chief Executive, Stockport Council; Internal Audit/Standards Committee

Subject: Formal Complaint Regarding Councillors’ Failure to Act on Woodland TPO 376E

Dear Ms Bates

I am writing to lodge a formal complaint regarding the conduct and inaction of Councillors Roberts, Clark, and Bresnahan concerning the ongoing destruction and degradation of the protected mixed deciduous woodland at Padden Brook, Romiley (Tree Preservation Order 376E, W1).

Over the past fourteen months, despite continuous and visible damage to this statutory woodland, repeated evidence-based representations from myself and other concerned residents have been met with either inaction or demonstrably misleading statements suggesting the site has been improved and tidied. This is inconsistent with the reality on site.

Specifically:

  1. Failure to Investigate or Enforce – No substantive investigations or enforcement actions appear to have been undertaken by the councillors, despite statutory obligations under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
  2. Misrepresentation of Facts – Public statements issued or endorsed by these councillors claim that the site has been “improved,” which is false and undermines public trust in council governance.
  3. Detriment to Public Interest and Good Governance – My formal complaints and information requests, which raise legitimate public interest issues about statutory woodland protection, have been labelled “vexatious” by council officers. This mislabelling has been tacitly supported by councillors who have failed to challenge it or ensure proper scrutiny, causing reputational harm and deterring lawful civic engagement.

In light of the above, I request that Stockport Council:

  1. Confirm the specific investigations or enforcement actions undertaken regarding the continued damage to Padden Brook (TPO 376E) and provide supporting evidence.
  2. State whether the Council considers its statutory obligations under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012 to have been met in relation to this woodland.
  3. Investigate the conduct of Councillors Roberts, Clark, and Bresnahan regarding the handling of this matter, including any dissemination of false or misleading information to the public.
  4. Retract the “vexatious” classification applied to my correspondence, formally acknowledge that the concerns raised were legitimate matters of public interest, and ensure that residents raising statutory or environmental issues in good faith are not unfairly discredited.

The ongoing destruction of Padden Brook represents a serious failure to uphold statutory protections and public trust. I request that my complaint be treated as urgent and that I receive a written response detailing the actions the Council will take to rectify these failings.

Yours sincerely,
Sheila Oliver
Ward: Romiley
Editor, The Romiley Gazette
Partner, Citizens 2022 Committee