Forum Topic

Ealing Council Tree Department

In April 2021 Ealing Council contractors sawed down a beautiful and perfectly healthy Norway Maple from outside our property. Over nine months later its large ugly stump remains. The justification to cut this huge tree down was that over time its trunk and roots had caused damage to the pavement, as the trunk has been left and the pavement remains in the same condition the exercise was pointless and leaves us an eyesore in place of a magnificent tree. I have tried to telephone and have written regular emails to the Councils tree dept, the last time anyone was courteous enough to reply was in November when they cited the contractor as not having the correct tool and staff shortages, previously that it was policy to have a group of trees to do on the same day. Nine months! I’d be grateful for any suggestions on how to escalate the matter,  Ealing Commons local councillors have been emailed directly and copied on all correspondence but don’t acknowledge.

Adam Porges ● 1304d12 Comments

There's something very fishy about the amount of tree surgery work that's gone on in Ealing & Hounslow these last few months.The decimation of Boston Manor Park still shocks me every time I go through there.Now Blondin is getting the treatment.

Colin Goodman ● 1302d

"It's indicative of officials not doing their job properly .."FAR too many Local Government employees know full well, and take total advantage, that they'll NEVER be fired, no matter how lazy and/or incompetent they are, take ridiculous number of days off, have horrendous timekeeping, etc, etc.It's a MAJOR problem that costs us all unnecessary and humungous ££££s, but ALL the Parties are too gutless to address.

Rosco White ● 1302d

its indicative of officials not doing their job properly or contracts being awarded to favoured contractors.But who checks and more to the point how easy is it the pull the wool over their eyes.There are more than a few who know how to climb the slippery pole but don't know a Maple from a Plane.

Raymond Havelock ● 1302d

".....false reporting of tree works by council contractors ...."Wouldn't surprise any of us one iota, their Invoices probably get Paid In Full with very little or no checking.  Labour controlled LBE is too busy playing politics, and couldn't run a bath.

Rosco White ● 1302d

"Ealing Commons local councillors have been emailed directly and copied on all correspondence but don’t acknowledge."I'm surprised if Joanna Dabrowska (CON) hasn't replied, she's a VERY conscientious Ward Councillor who actively gets on with The Job.

Rosco White ● 1302d

There was a report on this site a while back about false reporting of tree works by council contractors with Cllr Gary Malcolm very much on the case. I think Jon Ball is your local councillor for Ealing Common so he should be able to help you. If not try Gary Malcolm direct as he is the leader of the Lib Dem group.  A lack of response from some councillors at the moment might be down to them not intending to stand for election.

Gordon Southwell ● 1302d

You forgot 'listening'. :-)

N V Brooks ● 1302d

But we have a Socialist, caring, "Serving The People" Council!  😂

Rosco White ● 1302d

https://www.facebook.com/608763341/videos/4988791811167245/

N V Brooks ● 1303d

Can't get this to post as a live link. https://www.facebook.com/608763341/videos/4988791811167245/

N V Brooks ● 1303d

One only has to look at how the shrubbery in Blondin Park has been butchered by chainsaws over the past few days, with wildlife habitats destroyed, to see quite how sensitive Ealing's approach to arboriculture and maintenance now is.

N V Brooks ● 1303d

Ealing has had large street trees for as long as there has been a town called Ealing.Right up until the early 1970s street trees were very well maintained and a system of overlap planting was used . That is newer trees planted before older trees are removed over 12/18 years which as they mature, allow older mature trees to be felled without any upset to the environs.Pavements and roots were dealt with regularly and the pruning/lopping methods were used to contain excessive root growth.  Ground water table in most of Ealing is quite high so the trees generally don't have excessive root growth and can be managed.This has gone out of fashion and tree maintenance fell away by 1970.Part of this was due to the introduction of Single deck buses and the intention by LT to convert almost all local bus services to single deck driver only operation.  This led to a reduction of LTs tree control operations on B roads and bus route roads and overstretched council resources and means of the local council to maintain the increase. ( HGVs and taller vehicles other than buses still required B roads)As it turned out then, as now LT's cost cutting plan was an expensive failure and the changes never progressed. Pictures of double deck buses with roof damage are very common in the latter half of the 1970s which bears a visual record of the decline.There's been a history of chop and change management of trees ever since. But none as sensible as the original policy which was not a policy but purely long established urban adoption of woodland management of generations.Removal of large trees causes other issues. As the roots either die and rot or get pulled out. Voids occur and cause subsidence, increases in ground water, and sewer and service pipe collapses. As bad as the damage that unchecked root growth can also do.Completely concreted or paved front gardens all cause root issues and again as far back as 1969 Ealing would only allow partial hardstanding. 50% had to remain as soft ground. Somewhere that went out of the window too as permeable front drives are easily possible.Replacement varieties often don't have the same environmental benefits. Short term quick fix trees rather than long term trees.

Raymond Havelock ● 1303d