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Re: Highway tree responsibility

Subject: Re: Highway tree responsibility
From: Luke Steer
Date: Sep 05 2008 15:12:15
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Is there a history of these trees causing problems or has a 'jobs-worth' 
carried out an assessment and concluded that there is a potential problem.  
If there isn't a history of the trees causing problems the polititions may 
see sense and help find a pragmatic solution (pigs may fly).  
Luke



----- Original Message ----
From: Simon Valente <arborist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.wanadoo.co.uk>
To: UK Tree Care <uktc@xxxxxx.tree-care.info>
Sent: Friday, 5 September, 2008 3:47:27 PM
Subject: RE: Highway tree responsibility

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        Have you helped out on 'Ask an Arborist' lately?

                  http://www.tree-care.info/ask
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Ben asked...

" there is not a lot can be done to protect these trees, or is there?"

If you feel it's important then there is always something YOU can do. Talk to 
the local politicians, if necessary get the local  radio/papers involved and 
bang on about health and safety gone mad etc, get other locals involved, kick 
up a stink. Have the trees valued (make up a big number if you have to, who's 
gonna argue?) to show the level of loss and stupidity involved. 

Get the picture?

Simon (Swampy) Valente



========================================
Message Received: Sep 05 2008, 03:33 PM
From: "Howe, Ron" 
To: "UK Tree Care" 
Cc: 
Subject: RE: Highway tree responsibility


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          Have you helped out on 'Ask an Arborist' lately?

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Ben,

I'm sure some Highway Officers will clarify the position, but IMHO the
tree is not a hazard in any form as long as it's in a healthy, sound and
stable condition and therefore, if someone hits it, it should be down to
their own stupidity. What about the thread some short time back where
there were trees retained in the highway. The HA would be strongly
advised to make an application unless it could be clearly demonstrated
the trees were exempt or a statutory nuisance. What about low bridges.
Do they modify them? What about street furniture ... Road signs, traffic
lights. How many of them are level with the curb and get struck by
vehicles.

Ron Howe
Tree Officer
Environment Department
Mole Valley District Council
Pippbrook
Dorking
RH4 1SJ
Direct Tel. 01306 879 286


-----Original Message-----
From: ben riches [mailto:treecraft@xxxxxxxx.co.uk] 
Sent: Fri, 05 September 2008 15:21
To: UK Tree Care
Subject: Highway tree responsibility

______________________________________________________________________
          Have you helped out on 'Ask an Arborist' lately?

                  http://www.tree-care.info/ask
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A group of mature trees form a 'tunnel' over a well used country 'B'
road. This group is protected by a Group TPO.
A mature beech in this group has a large limb over the highway which
gives a clearance of 4.8m at the edge of the carriageway, less than the
5.2m requested by the highways department. The limb is so significant
that the loss of it will mean the whole tree will have to be remove due
to its 'unique' (wind battered) form.
  
The Highways Dept. have also requested 0.6m clearance in from the edge
of the carriageway be maintained. This would result in the loss of
approximately 4 more mature trees and a significant feature in this
small part of the world.
  
If a high-sided vehicle collided with this limb or any of the trees, who
would be responsible? The driver for driving without due care and
attention, the Highways Dept. for not maintaining a clear carriageway,
or the tree owner for allowing the tree to pose a hazard?
  
I guess as Highway Regs over-rule TPO protection that there is not a lot
can be done to protect these trees, or is there?
  
Regards
  
Ben
  
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