Richmond Street Trees Consultation

Contact

Any queries please contact:

Consultation@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Overview

Removal of street trees

The Council’s tree experts carefully assess every tree individually, with tree retention always our first priority. This approach enables the majority of street trees to be retained. It is our duty to keep our streets safe and ensure that our resident's come to no harm. Very occasionally, we reluctantly must remove a tree that is causing damage, where an engineering solution that retains the tree and maintains the footway in a safe condition for all, is not workable.

For more information on how we look after the borough trees, please see our Tree Management & Pruning webpage, where you can download our Tree Policy.

Replacement tree planting

When a tree is removed, the Council is fully committed to the planting of a replacement tree. Sometimes, trees are not planted in precisely the same location, as the site conditions may have changed over the lifespan of the previous tree and locations may no longer viable (Underground utilities, driveways, or street lighting etc). In these instances, an alternative location is then used.

For more information on street tree planting, please see our Tree Planting webpage.

Duty to Consult Legislation

Section 115 of the Environment Act 2021 requires local highway authorities in England to consult the general public before felling street trees (known as Duty to Consult). Duty to Consult does not apply to all trees that the Council manages; many are exempt, including street trees that are deemed to be dangerous or the classified road network or within parks and open spaces.

For information on the Duty To Consult and the list of exemptions, please see the Duty To Consult Guidance.

What happens after the consultation?

All feedback will be considered before a decision is made on the way forward. Once the consultation period has closed, the council will consider the responses and make a final decision on whether to remove the tree(s). The decisions will be published on the Council website here. Link needed and also attached to the tree(s) in question.

The results of each consultation will remain applicable for a period of two years following the end of the consultation period. Within the two years the local Highway Authority may fell the street tree(s) in question, provided a response to the consultation has been published at least 28 days prior to the felling taking place. After two years the results of the consultation will expire and a new consultation must be undertaken if the local Highway Authority wishes to fell any street tree(s) previously consulted on.

Have your say

If you wish to comment on a proposal to fell a street tree, please click on the 'Online Form' link below.

If you need to request a paper form or materials in any other format, please contact the Trees Team by email: Trees&parks@Richmond.gov.uk, telephone: 020 8891 1411 quoting 'Richmond Street Trees consultation' or post: Tree Section, Parks & Open Spaces, Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW2 7PU

Past Duty to Consult cases

The below consultations have now closed. To find out what happened, click on the relevant link:

Give Us Your Views

Online Form

Areas

  • All Areas

Audiences

  • Open to all

Interests

  • Richmond Borough