Why do you need to look after trees on the
highway?
Trees are an essential part of our lives. They provide timber and
habitats for wildlife, and are valued for their beauty. However, if
they are not looked after, trees can become a problem to people who
use the roads. They may fall (particularly during storms), lose
branches, damage property and put people at risk of injury. They
are living things and they can become diseased so we need to look
after them to make sure they are safe.
How do you look after trees on the highway?
We are responsible for the trees on the highways, so we inspect
them to make sure they are safe. In Kent a team of inspectors walk
over 2000 kilometres of roads each year to inspect trees. They
inspect trees that are along the side of roads, on verges, on
pathways, in hedgerows, on footpaths or on private land.
What do you look for when you inspect a tree?
We look for things like:
- disease;
- areas where the tree has died; and
- weakness or damage to the tree's structure.
- We also look at where the tree is, for example, whether it is
on a busy road or on a quiet country lane with little
traffic.
How do you decide if the tree is safe?
All inspectors are trained professionals. A qualified
arboriculturist, a professional who cultivates and manages trees,
will make all decisions about a tree.
To help decide whether the tree is safe, new specialist equipment
is used. This gives a 'picture' of the inside of the tree to help
assess any decay.
What can you do to try to save a tree?
There are several options. We can:
- remove the dead wood;
- remove the weak branches; or
- reduce the crown (top) of the tree and give it a chance to
recover.
To help the environment we want to keep as many trees as
possible. Cutting down a tree is the very last option.
Why do you inspect trees on private land? Isn't it up to the
owner of the tree to look after their own trees?
Yes, it is. A tree on private land is the responsibility of the
owner. However, if the tree is near enough to the road to cause a
problem if it fell, then we inspect it. If the tree caused damage
or injury to anyone, then the owner of the tree is responsible.
What happens if you think the tree on private land is
unsafe?
The inspector does not go onto the land, which means the inspection
is not detailed. If there appears to be a problem, we send a letter
to the owner to let them know. The letter recommends that the owner
arranges a detailed inspection and asks that any work needed to
make the tree safe is carried out.
By law, the owner has a 'duty of care'. This means that they
have to take reasonable steps to prevent or reduce as far as
possible, the risk of injury or damage the tree might cause. If the
owner doesn't do this, there are legal ways of getting this done
but this is very much a last resort.
I have a tree in my front garden. How can I find out if it is
safe?
Make sure a tree specialist regularly inspects your tree. If he or
she recommends work is needed, make sure this is done by a
competent and fully insured workman.
Some trees in my road were taken down because they were damaged
by a storm. Why have no trees been planted in their place?
We always consider planting new trees when trees have been taken
down. Sometimes there are underground cables and pipes which would
not have been there when the original trees were planted. To plant
between them is not always possible.
New service cables have been laid in my road and the area
around the trees was dug up. How are the trees protected from this
work?
All service providers such as electricity, water or cable companies
have agreed to follow a code of practice. This means that they
should not dig around trees with mechanical tools, but dig
carefully around the roots by hand. This is important if the tree
is covered by a tree preservation order (TPO) or is in a
conservation area.
We are having problems with subsidence and we suspect that the
tree outside our fence may be responsible. How do we make a claim
for subsidence?
Contact your house insurer. They will contact us on your behalf if
there is likely to be a claim.
What about branches and leaves that overhang the road. Do you
deal with those?
If they are privately owned, the person who owns the tree, hedge or
shrub is responsible. If the leaves or branches are in people's
way, blocking a driver's view or in the way of a public light, we
can ask the person to cut, trim or prune the tree to remove the
obstruction.
If they are not privately owned, we will look at the problem and
deal with it if necessary.
What can I do if a tree is causing me problems?
Some people consider trees to be a problem. However, by law, we
do not have to sort out problems caused by trees, such as:
- falling leaves;
- seeds dropping;
- shade;
- branches hanging over your garden;
- sap dripping; and
- the tree interfering with television reception.
Report a problem with a tree
If you think a tree may be causing a problem on the highway, you
can tell us about it using our
online fault reporting form - this link opens in a new window.
You will require an e-mail address to complete an online
report - if you do not have an e-mail address please call 08458 247
800. |