Branksome Road tree branches touching wires

Updates

• Thank you for reporting a problem with a street tree.

  We aim to inspect street tree problems within 10 working days of being reported, or 2 hours if the tree is dangerous. We aim to carry out any necessary work within 30 working days.

  Did you know…?
  We care for more than 20,000 street trees in Merton, including pruning, pollarding, and planting hundreds each year to keep streets green, safe, and walkable.
  

  Posted by Merton Council at 08:21, Wed 29 October 2025

• Still open, via questionnaire, 08:41, Wed 26 November 2025

• Thank for your report. Branches touching overhead telephone wires are not our duty to prune – this is the responsibility of service providers e.g., British Telecom (BT) or local network operator e.g., Openreach as these are their properties. They, as a statutory undertaker under the Telecommunications Act 1984, hold a telecommunications licence to carry out works, including tree works, to maintain their services. Several options are available to the utility company that do not require pruning of a tree to maintain the service. For example, the cable can be sheathed at points of high friction, or the line can be redirected through the tree canopy. Pruning is a temporary solution, and the problem may reoccur when branches grow back. Please contact them in case a fault with telephone connection.

  Posted by Merton Council at 12:05, Friday 9 January 2026