Closed
Large street tree: branches pulling telecom cables + severe pavement cracking (outside 55 Hamilton Road)
Sent to Merton Council less than a minute later. Council ref: SRQ-1269560-W6N0Y2.
Please arrange an urgent on-site inspection by the tree team and make safe. - Branches are visibly pulling on telecommunications cables: in recent high winds the cables were visibly under strain and could break, causing service disruption and potential hazard. - Pavement damage / trip hazard: the footway around the base is heavily heaved and cracked, significantly restricting access for wheelchair users and buggies. - Falling branch risk: large/heavy branches have fallen and been shed over the past few winters, making it highly unsafe to park or walk underneath. - Root-related damage: tree roots have caused significant damage to the wall of the property at 55 Hamilton Road. The branches are protruding well into the front garden of the property.
Finally, this has been raised repeatedly over the last few years (incl. an extensive report in Oct 2023), but no effective remedial works have been carried out. Based on correspondence with the council, the tree has not been pruned/pollarded nor maintained over at least the last 4 years, despite numerous reports and complaints. The tree keeps on getting missed while other trees on the same street are maintained. This tree now stands as one of the tallest in the road.
Photos attached of the cables, cracked pavement, and tree canopy/branches.
Updates
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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.
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Thank you for your report. Most of tree maintenance is regular tree inspection for tree health and public safety. Most of trees we inspected did not require tree works. As our latest routine inspection, we found this tree in good condition and low risk. We have identified and specified the necessary tree works like cutting back branches from property side as part of routine maintenance. Please understand that we are unable to maintain all street trees simultaneously. Borough-wide tree maintenance is prioritised by risk to public safety, so lower-risk trees will be addressed as work progresses on higher-risk ones. We apologise for not being able to provide a specific date at this time, but we are managing the work as efficiently as possible within our resource limits. Our records show that the tree is not in the pollarding regime because the species, Turkish hazel, does not respond well to pollarding and would most likely die after several cycles of pollarding. We prescribe tree works or not according to tree characteristics and conditions. The phone lines and poles are the property of the telecom company, not the residents’. The resident has right to service according to contract with telecom company. When there is service disruption or potential disruption, the resident should contact the service provider. As property owner of phone cables, telecom company / network operator e.g. Openreach will take appropriate action including contact council if they feel appropriate. As I understand telecom company / network operator have the practice of putting the wires though public trees. They also have their own tree surgeon team to prune trees when necessary, according to Telecommunication company Act of 1984. Wiring technicians are not qualified tree surgeons and hence it is not their responsibility to prune trees. And they usually adopt methods other than pruning tree to ensure their services to customers. 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. We understand that the roots of street trees can sometimes cause damage to roads or pavements. Our Highways team have inspection and maintenance programme in place to repair any damage and prevent trip hazards. This upkeep is part of the shared cost of enjoying the many benefits that street trees bring to our community. If you notice pavement damage that needs extra attention, please report it separately using the link below for a direct response and updates: https://www.merton.gov.uk/ streets-parking-transport/ streets-and-pavements/ dangerous-paving For tree root damage within your property boundary, we are unable to carry out repairs in private property. However, you may submit a damage claim and then arrange the repairs yourself by the compensation if approved. Please see following link for details about claim procedure: https://www.merton.gov.uk/ council-and-local-democracy/ complaints-comments/ insurance-claims During the repairing, you can cut back tree roots within property boundary and consider to inserting root barriers. According to Merton Council’s policy document: Tree Strategy 2023–2029 and common law precedents: Residents have right to prune overhanging branches or encroaching roots up to their property boundary, provided the tree is not protected (e.g. by a Tree Preservation Order) or in a conservation area. The pruned material remains council property, but you do not need to return it and please dispose of in legal and appropriate manner. Please note that access to council land is not permitted during such work for safety reasons. Removing large roots can affect the tree’s stability and increase the risk of whole tree failure. We recommend using a qualified tree surgeon or consulting an arboriculturist for safe, professional work: https://www.trees.org.uk/ Find-a-professional
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