Dangerous trees.
Local authorities have
powers to deal with trees on private
property which are in a dangerous condition.
A local authority can:-
- make any tree safe, if asked to do
so by the owner of the land on which the
tree stands. The local authority will
recover the costs of doing this from the
owner; and/or
- make a tree safe on someone else's
land, if asked to do so by a neighbour
whose property is threatened by the tree
and the owner of the land on which the
tree stands is not known; and/or
- serve a notice on someone who has a
tree in a dangerous condition which is
threatening to damage the property of a
neighbour and that neighbour asks the
local authority to take action. The
owner of the tree must comply with the
notice. If s/he does not, the local
authority will do the necessary work and
recover the costs from the owner. The
owner can appeal to the county court
against the notice.
If someone wants the local authority to
take action, s/he should contact the
planning or technical services department
who will check the condition of the tree.
It is up to the local authority to decide
if the tree is in a dangerous condition. If
it considers it to be safe, it does not have
to take any action.