STREETS
When trees
attack…
With the warmer months
of the year upon us, you
need to keep an eye on
the growth of your trees,
hedges and shrubs in case
they overhang a pavement
or road. As the plants
sprout forth, the number
of complaints shoots up.
E
aling Council has the power
to demand someone removes
or cuts back any vegetation
that is obstructing, or
endangering, pedestrians on footpaths
or drivers on roads.
Trees and hedges are the
responsibility of the owner of the land
they stand on, and the owner has a
legal obligation to keep them from
encroaching in this way.
It is generally accepted that the
minimum clearance should be the
equivalent of allowing a 6ft-tall person
holding up an umbrella to walk
unimpeded along a footpath, or a double
decker bus to travel along a road without
hitting any overhanging branches.
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz, cabinet
member for transport, environment
and leisure, said: “Vegetation
overhanging the highway is one of
40
around ealing
Summer 2016