We are responsible for more than 10,000 trees growing within the highway boundary. We are also responsible for ensuring that trees outside the highway but within falling distance are safe.
Trees provide immense environmental benefits. They store carbon, clean the air, collect rainwater, provide shade, reduce noise, protect soil from erosion and provide habitats for wildlife.
Trees can, over time, shed leaves and branches, which can fall, presenting a hazard to highway users.
Due to growth above and below ground, trees can sometimes cause maintenance issues for kerbs, footway paving and carriageway (road) surfaces, too.
To ensure a good balance is reached we cooperate with arboriculturists, landscape architects and urban designers to preserve and enhance the range and quality of street trees.
Inspections and maintenance
As part of our safety and service inspections, we also inspect trees that fall into the boundary area. These inspections include checking for gale damage, broken or overhanging limbs and unstable or leaning trunks.
If a tree growing off the highway requires urgent attention in the interests of highways safety, we will take appropriate action and recover costs if applicable.
If a tree growing off the highway requires less urgent action, we will contact the owner or occupier and give them notice to take action themselves to rectify the situation within 28 days.
Additionally, any tree with a trunk greater than 300mm and within 25m of the highway will have its condition assessed using a Quantified Tree Risk Assessment.
Trees requiring work within the highway will be prioritised and programmed into the job sheet. We will request that owners carry out work on private trees identified as needing work.
Routine maintenance
As part of our routine inspections, we will identify any street lights and traffic signs where obstruction from trees and foliage is causing a safety risk. These trees and foliage will be trimmed back to allow lighting to function and signs to be legible.
We also trim back basal growth and pollard some trees in the urban environment on regular schedules to maintain the width and vertical clearance on footways, cycleways and roads.
Planned maintenance
Using the information, we plan and programme works to highways trees identified as requiring maintenance.
We recognise that significant pruning or felling of trees can cause considerable local concern, and works such as this will only ever be done with specialist advice and support.
In urban areas we coordinate a proactive management programme to prevent damage to highways and property.
In rural areas, works on highway trees is mostly reactive, other than for safety reasons.
Tree preservation orders
A Tree Preservation order (TPO) is made by the local planning authority (District Council) to protect specific trees or a particular woodland from deliberate damage and destruction.
TPOs prevent the felling, lopping, topping, uprooting or otherwise wilful damaging of trees without the permission of the local planning authority.
- Details of these trees are kept at the relevant District Council offices.
- If a tree is protected, written permission is required to remove it or to carry out any tree surgery.
An owner, or a contractor working on behalf of the owner, can apply for work to be carried out on protected trees. A decision is usually given within 6 weeks for Conservation Areas and 2 months for Tree Preservation Orders and planning conditions.
When trees are removed, it is usual for the owner to be required to plant replacements, usually of the same, or a more appropriate species, at the same location.
Before working on a tree, check with your District Council to see if it is subject to a TPO.