Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 6; Flight Crew Total 101; Flight Crew Type 101
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
I was on short; short final for Runway XX at ZZZ with a touch-and-go clearance. At an altitude of approximately 400 ft. AGL and about 0.4 SM from the runway threshold; ZZZ Tower cleared a Cirrus for takeoff. As the Cirrus began entering the runway; I rejected the landing and began to apply full power before the tower instructed me to go around and side-step to the right. I acknowledged the go-around; and requested a north departure; which was granted to follow the Cirrus that had just taken off. I'm unsure whether ATC inattention; loss of awareness of spacing; or simply the desire to get that traffic out caused this unsafe clearance to be issued. I would expect that controllers be aware of traffic on final and not issue conflicting releases of departing traffic.
Pilot reported a go around after tower cleared an aircraft for takeoff with reporting pilot on short final for a touch and go.