Tree Management

Tree is in a dangerous condition and is immediate and real risk to people or property, e.g. branches or whole tree liable to fall

This is urgent. Please telephone 01233 331111 (including out of hours).

Tree branches overhanging property

The council will not cut back trees or branches overhanging property unless they are dangerous.

You have a common law right to cut the vegetation back to your boundary. If the tree is in a conservation area or subject to a Tree Protection Order this work must be authorised.

Tree is too tall and may fall

Trees are not necessarily dangerous because they have grown tall. Trees will only be pruned back where there is a clear risk to safety or property.

Any trees reported as dangerous will be inspected and action taken accordingly.

Tree is dropping blossom, flowers, fruits, seeds or leaves

The council will not carry out work on trees to prevent them from dropping naturally occurring items. These are a seasonal inconvenience which a reasonable person would be expected to accept.

The council’s contractors will remove these items from paths and the highway, but not from private property

Tree is dropping honeydew or sap

This is a seasonal problem caused by aphids which are almost impossible to remove. Pruning is likely to exacerbate the problem in the long run as new growth would be more prone to aphid infestation.

There are insects or pests in the tree

Bees are a protected species and no action can be taken to control bees.

The council’s contractor will assess the practicality of removing a wasp nest when it is reported.

Other pests such as brown tailed moths cannot be removed from a mature tree practically. However, this will be assessed  when reported.

Tree is affecting my television signal

The council will not carry out work on trees to improve television reception.

The satellite dish or aerial could be repositioned and you could seek assistance from your television provider or aerial specialist.

Birds’ nests and bird droppings

The Council will not fell or prune trees to prevent birds from nesting or bird droppings.

Birds and their eggs and nests are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Tree is blocking light or causing shade

The council will not prune or fell trees that are blocking direct sunlight or causing shade. There is no right to direct sunlight, only daylight.

The council may take action where the loss of light is substantial or there is an impact on a resident’s livelihood.

Tree is blocking or spoiling my view

The council will not prune or fell a tree to improve a view from a property.

Tree or tree branch is touching my building

This may be a nuisance. If a tree is causing damage to a property or is likely to in the near future the council will take action to prune back or to remove the tree as soon as it is reasonably possible to do so.

Subsidence claims relating to trees

This may be a nuisance. If you suspect that a council owned tree is causing subsidence damage to your property, please report this to us so that it can be investigated.

You will also need to notify your insurer as evidence will be required that a council owned tree is to blame before any action is taken.

The council will take advice from a suitably competent person on the best course of action.

Tree roots in residential property

This may be a nuisance. The council will not prune roots or fell a tree because of roots in a neighbouring property.

You have a common law right to prune roots back to your boundary providing it doesn’t affect the safety or health of the tree. Please report this matter so the council can advise on a suitable specification for the works.

If the roots of a council owned tree have caused damage to your property, please report this so it can be investigated.

You will also need to notify your insurer as evidence will be required that a council owned tree is responsible before any action is taken.