Tree Managers : Public Discussion

I love trees and I do not like seeing them chopped down/removed but I am in favour of people planting and maintaining trees responsibly and many people are just not doing so. It goes far beyond trees that might be diseased. Many trees are allowed to grow far too tall/wide for the area they are planted ( eg domestic garden). Legislation was put in place for lleylandi but deciduous trees spread roots much further and do more damage to foundations of buildings. They are also more likely to cause damage to other people's gardens (eg damage to lawns they overhang through shade and dropping leaves) as well as having more likelyhood of coming down in string wind or even a large branch falling.

Tree owners may owe a duty of care but it is extremely time consuming and and expensive to take action (generally court is the only right of recourse) against people who are irresponsible and will not take time and investment to look after plants in their gardens which are causing misery and damage to surrounding property as well as posing a significant health and safety risk. The same rules that apply to lleylandi should apply to deciduous trees. If trees are diseased, causing unnecessary damage to neighbouring property or presenting a significant risk to safety if they were to fall (or even a large branch to become detached) the person on whose property they are growing should be required to take action to have then removed or proper tree surgery carried out. If not they should be panalised to the amount it would cost to have the relevant tree surgery performed. Affected people should be able to report trees they think should come into this category. This will impact on household insurance costs but people have to take responsibility for their property and what they grow on it.

I support this move but wish it were widened to cover not just inspections for trees with disease but also any trees that are potentially danagerous due to size etc and also causing damage to neighbouring property.