Trees

We manage and maintain trees on council owned land. Trees in private gardens, part of a housing association, or on private land are the responsibility of the owner. Enquiries about trees in school grounds should be made direct to the school.

We will carry out works where necessary for the following: 

• Obstructing footpaths or roads
• Touching or damaging buildings
• Considered by the Council to be unsuitable for the location
• Proven to be causing significant structural damage, if an engineering solution is not possible
• Structural defects or dead trees deemed to be in such poor condition to be a danger to the public

We will not undertake works for these reasons:

• Birds and honeydew
  • In line with the Council's Tree Strategy, the Council cannot undertake works on trees for this reason
• Leaf loss and falling fruit
  • In line with the Council's Tree Strategy, the Council cannot undertake works on trees for this reason
• Loss of light
  • In line with the Council's Tree Strategy, the Council cannot undertake works on trees for this reason
• Branches overhanging property
  • Customers have a common law right to prune back to their boundary. Common law allows you to prune back trees and hedges that are not protected by a Tree Preservation Order or within a Conservation Area. TPO CHECKS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO PLANNING. This right extends to the roots growing under your land up to your boundary, without the consent of the owner. You must not trespass onto the neighbouring land to carry out the works. If it is a private tree, you should offer to give the owner the cuttings. Where a tree is on council land, we do not wish to have the branches back and would ask they are disposed of via your green waste bin
  • Please note: you have a duty of care for the tree and may be liable for damages if any work you do, or ask others to do for you, causes the tree to die or become dangerous
• TV reception and solar panels
  • In line with the Council's Tree Strategy, the Council cannot undertake works on trees for this reason
• Interfering with telephone cables
  • Customers should take this up with their service provider, who have a statutory right to maintain the equipment
• Root damage to public footpath / highway
  • This should be reported to our Highways Section
• Alleged root damage on / to private property
  • Customers should make contact with their own insurer in the first instance

If you believe there is a tree on council owned land that is suffering from an issue we manage then please let us know.