Tree is growing far too big

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 13:12, Mon 10 November 2025

• Thank you for your report. Byron Ave has been included in pollarding programme. We anticipate the work will take place in 2026, subject to overall work progress and any urgent priorities such as storm-related response activities. 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. We can appreciate that there can be a common concern in regards to tree roots undermining a property. It is rare for the direct action of roots to damage a house. However, they may affect lighter structures such as garden walls and/or paving. Trees may cause damage if they are growing on shrinkable clay soil for example, where the roots can remove the moisture from the soil and cause movement as the ground dries out (although the effect is variable and depends on the type of clay soil, foundation design, species of tree, rainfall, and distance between the tree and the property). Tree related subsidence is a complex issue, and each case will need to be considered on an individual basis to ensure that it is the tree that is causing the problem and not some other factor. We got lots of trees growing on clay soil and close to buildings, but only a few did actually cause damage. To advise if a resident identified damage or subsidence, they are advised to contact their insurance company in the first instance so that they can discuss their concerns and agree an appropriate course of action. Should they, or those acting on their behalf, wish to make a claim for damages against the Council, alleging that a Council owned tree has caused damage to their property, they will be required to submit an independent report to the Council to support their claim. Where evidence provided can confirm that a council owned tree is implicated in building subsidence or damage, we will take appropriate action to that specific tree.

  State changed to: In progress

  Posted by Merton Council at 13:25, Wednesday 14 January 2026

• Do you have a date confirmed when this tree will be pruned please ?

  Posted by Gerard Howley at 13:08, Wednesday 8 April 2026