Tree roots lifting pavement again

Updates

• Thank you for your report, this is now being investigated. Information on our services and the timeframes we aim to respond in can be found: http://www.bromley.gov.uk/ fixservices

  State changed to: In progress

  Posted by Bromley Council at 12:53, Wed 14 September 2022

• We have investigated this report and have made contact with the report originator to outline further details. This report is now closed on FixMyStreet.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 14:14, Thu 15 September 2022

• Hi, the message states that you have contacted me to advise of further details but I have not received anything to say what is going to happen next. This does need resolving asap as my wife has a fused ankle and has stumbled a few times as well as her car getting damaged. I look forward to hearing from you.

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 15:49, Thu 15 September 2022

• Thank you for the enquiry, the tree will not be removed, the below criteria will explain why.

  (https://www.bromley.gov.uk/ downloads/ file/ 3334/ tree_management_strategy_2016-2020) the Council will not prune trees in relation to the following:

  • Branches overhanging properties - residents have the right to exorcise their right under Common Law to prune back branches to their property boundary;

  • Where a tree is thought be overly large.

  • Interference with satellite, TV or other media reception.

  • Branches and/or limbs in physical contact with telephone wires - telephone wires are plastic coated and faults on the line are very rarely caused by contact with branches.

  • Excessive leaf fall: this is a seasonal problem and residents are expected to clear any leaf litter falling on their properties themselves. Leaf fall on the highway will be addressed through our street cleansing regime.

  • Fruit fall: this is a seasonal problem and residents are expected to clear any fruit falling on their properties themselves. Fruit fall on the highway will be addressed through our street cleansing regime.

  • Problems associated with pollen.

  • Excreta caused by insects or birds: honeydew (aphid excreta) and bird droppings are not sticky sap are not recognised in law as a ‘legal nuisance’

  • Obstruction of view: there are no rights associated with maintaining trees in accordance with maintaining views in British law

  • Lack of light: there is no ‘Right to light’ (or shade) in British law.

  I will speak with the high ways department to see if anything can be done.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 10:34, Thu 22 September 2022

• Please let me know asap what they say as we definitely need to do something (my daughter also has a new car and won't park on the drive because of this). I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 11:17, Thu 22 September 2022

• Thank you for your report, this is now being investigated. Information on our services and the timeframes we aim to respond in can be found: http://www.bromley.gov.uk/ fixservices

  State changed to: In progress

  Posted by Bromley Council at 08:39, Mon 3 October 2022

• We are continuing to investigate and working to resolve this report

  Posted by Bromley Council at 14:42, Thu 6 October 2022

• Thank you for the comment, No action is to be taken regarding the reported tree, please note that as outlined in our Tree Management Strategy (https://www.bromley.gov.uk/ downloads/ file/ 3334/ tree_management_strategy_2016-2020) the Council will not prune trees in relation to the following:

  • Branches overhanging properties - residents have the right to exorcise their right under Common Law to prune back branches to their property boundary;

  • Where a tree is thought be overly large.

  • Interference with satellite, TV or other media reception.

  • Branches and/or limbs in physical contact with telephone wires - telephone wires are plastic coated and faults on the line are very rarely caused by contact with branches.

  • Excessive leaf fall: this is a seasonal problem and residents are expected to clear any leaf litter falling on their properties themselves. Leaf fall on the highway will be addressed through our street cleansing regime.

  • Fruit fall: this is a seasonal problem and residents are expected to clear any fruit falling on their properties themselves. Fruit fall on the highway will be addressed through our street cleansing regime.

  • Problems associated with pollen.

  • Excreta caused by insects or birds: honeydew (aphid excreta) and bird droppings are not sticky sap are not recognised in law as a ‘legal nuisance’

  • Obstruction of view: there are no rights associated with maintaining trees in accordance with maintaining views in British law

  • Lack of light: there is no ‘Right to light’ (or shade) in British law.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 18:13, Mon 17 October 2022

• We have investigated this report and have made contact with the report originator to outline further details. This report is now closed on FixMyStreet.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 18:15, Mon 17 October 2022

• You say that you have made contact with the report originator to outline further details but nothing has been outlined to me other than 'report is closed on fix my street'. You have sent details about why the tree can't be pruned but that is not the issue - the issue is with the roots raising the ground on the access to our drive. Please can this be dealt with as a matter of urgency now before the winter sets in.

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 12:35, Tue 18 October 2022

• Thank you for the comment, the tree's roots cannot be pruned or severed, this would make the tree unstable, the pavement has been retarmac to the best possible outcome that is available with the tree. Bromley Borough Council does not remove healthy trees because they are lifting the pavement, going forward No Action Will be taken on this matter.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 14:56, Thu 27 October 2022

• It was tarmacked but since then it has risen again and will only get worse. This definitely needs sorting out and it wouldn't make the tree unstable by removing part of that particular root. I have had a tree surgeon visit the site to confirm this. Please can this be sorted out asap. Thanks

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 10:24, Mon 31 October 2022

• Thank you for your comment, as per the previous comment, we cannot remove any roots that will risk making the tree unstable, I have passed this to our highways department to look at sorting out the tarmac.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 13:49, Wed 9 November 2022

• I look forward to hearing from you regarding the repairs. It would be good if I could meet someone at the site to review this. Thanks.

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 14:36, Thu 10 November 2022

• Thank you for your comments. The damaged footway has been passed onto Highways who will make contact with you directly.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 13:31, Wed 16 November 2022

• I look forward to hearing from the highways people and will keep this open until the problem is dealt with. Thanks

  State changed to: Open

  Posted anonymously at 18:55, Wed 16 November 2022

• Thank you for your report, this is now being investigated. Information on our services and the timeframes we aim to respond in can be found: http://www.bromley.gov.uk/ fixservices

  State changed to: In progress

  Posted by Bromley Council at 08:51, Thu 17 November 2022

• Our contractor has been notified to take the appropriate action.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 13:26, Thu 17 November 2022

• Thank you for your continued patience, HW's have raised works to lift the footway to see what roots can be viably pruned.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 09:13, Mon 28 November 2022

• Appropriate works have been raised and should be completed in the near future.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 10:52, Thu 15 December 2022

• Thank you for using FixMyStreet to report your concerns to Bromley.

  State changed to: No further action

  Posted by Bromley Council at 10:56, Thu 15 December 2022

• Could you confirm when these works will be carried out please.

  Posted anonymously at 11:36, Tuesday 3 January 2023

• These works should be carried out in the next 35 days.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 11:52, Friday 20 January 2023

• Our contractor has been notified to take the appropriate action.

  State changed to: In progress

  Posted by Bromley Council at 11:55, Friday 20 January 2023

• Further works are necessary to resolve the issue and have been scheduled for action.

  Posted by Bromley Council at 16:19, Thursday 26 January 2023

• Appropriate action has been taken to resolve the issue.

  State changed to: Fixed

  Posted by Bromley Council at 09:47, Monday 6 February 2023