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Treehouse to be torn down over insurance issues

Sophie Laddand
Annabelle Martin,Gloucestershire
BBC About a dozen children play inside, on top of and around a large treehouse built out of logs and wood planks. It is inside a canopy of trees.BBC
The treehouse was built by a father and son to help the young boy deal with his anxiety but has since become popular with children in the area

A treehouse made by a father and his son is due to be demolished by a borough council as it is unable to get it insured.

Pete, from Leckhampton in Cheltenham, built the treehouse with his nine-year-old son Cooper in Burrow's Field, close to their home.

Pete started the project as a way to encourage Cooper, who has autism and severe anxiety, to leave the house.

Councillor Steve Harvey from Cheltenham Borough Council has said the treehouse cannot stay there without appropriate public liability insurance as "there is a duty of care to protect everyone, so it will be safely removed and recycled into wood chippings".

Harvey, who is the council's cabinet member for parks, gardens and green spaces, said the authority understood the sentimental value of the treehouse and the enjoyment it had brought to many children and families.

The treehouse won't be able to stay forever
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Pete said the treehouse was a lifeline for Cooper, who went 60 days without leaving the house after leaving school because of mental health difficulties.

Pete said he encouraged him to help build the treehouse, as Cooper enjoyed building things on minecraft.

Cooper has said he is upset the treehouse will be destroyed as "it means a lot as I am able to come to the treehouse and feel relaxed".

A family of four pose in woodland, with one child standing in front of an adult and another being held. A treehouse is visible among the trees in the background.
The treehouse was built for nine-year-old Cooper (L), pictured here with his mother Natalie, father Pete and brother Jude

Teenagers Kaden, Miles, Beau and Amelia helped build the treehouse.

Kaden said he was upset by the decision to remove it, adding: "It's annoying considering how much time we spent building it."

Amelia said: "It is disappointing as it is such a nice place to hang out outside."

Four young people stand together in a woodland setting with their arms around each other. Behind them is a large treehouse-like structure built from branches and timber, surrounded by trees and dense greenery.
Amelia, Miles, Kaden and Beau began building the treehouse last summer.

Cooper's mum Natalie said she wished the council would explore alternatives.

"We want to know if there is any way around it, or anything we can do to rebuild the structure to get insurance, or for an alternative space to be provided," she said.

Pete said the family understood the councils' concerns but hoped there could be a compromise.

"We understand it is not our land and that health and safety is a factor, but it is really sad they won't work with us to help make it safer," he added.

The treehouse sits across land owned by Leckhampton with Warden Parish Council and Cheltenham Borough Council.

Phil Bennett, chair of Leckhampton with Warden Parish Council, said both councils had spoken to separate insurers who declined to provide the necessary public liability insurance.

"We are very sympathetic but have been left with no alternative due to the very poor health of the tree," he said.

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