The many thousands of trees on the parks, open spaces and other land owned or maintained by Eastleigh Borough Council arte the responsibility of the Council.
On average the Countryside and Recreation Services team receive 2000 calls a year relating to tree issues.
Top priority for the Council tree management team is public safety. Work on any tree identified by the tree officer as being in a dangerous condition will be treated as an emergency.
Limited resources mean decisions have to be made on the priority of the work. To achieve this we have introduced “Traffic Light Trees”… a system designed to help people who are making an enquiry to know:-
- How urgent the work is
- When the work should be completed
- Who to contact for further information
If you make a request for tree works to Council owned or managed trees, e.g. trees that look dangerous or trees overhanging paths, we take the following steps:-
- The initial enquiry/report is logged
- A Council tree officer will visit the site and inspect the tree before deciding which of the three categories is appropriate.
- If any work is required this will be undertaken by a contractor within an agreed time period (as listed below).
The three categories are:-
Red: Urgent works requiring immediate attention and will be completed within 4 weeks
Amber: Trees that need attention to prevent them becoming dangerous. The work will be completed within 6 months.
Green: Tree works that are not essential. The enquiry will be noted and action will be taken on a priority basis. Only about 10% of green priority work can be carried out due to time and financial pressures. These works, if approved, will be carried out within 12 months
Council Policies on Trees
To provide guidance on trees and what works are acceptable Eastleigh Borough Council has produced tree policies as part of its Local Plan. The following works to trees fall into the green category and can no longer be undertaken.
Light – trees will not generally be pruned to allow greater access for light.
Tree debris – Falling fruit, leaves and seed are not considered sufficient reason to prune or remove trees.
TV reception – Pruning is not generally allowed to improve reception for TV’s.
Large trees – The fact a tree is large and swaying in the wind is not sufficient in itself to justify removal or pruning.
Further explanation of these and other council policies is available in Eastleigh Borough Local Plan.
______
the Tree Officer for Eastleigh Borough Council has been to
______
to assess the works priority of your tree enquiry.
The work falls into the following category:
Red will be attended to within 1 month.
Amber Will be attended to within 6 months.
Green may be attended to within one year.
Signed ______
Date ______
Reference No. ______
The Importance of Trees
- Trees provide shade and shelter as well as filtering the air of pollutants
- Trees can add value to an area by attracting new businesses and increasing the values of properties
- A tree-rich landscape can help biodiversity
- Interception of rainfall by trees can slow down storm water run-off and help reduce the risk of flooding
- Planting of trees and woodlands can help to develop and foster communities
- Trees, wood s and green space can provide indicators of a good environment
Countryside and Recreation Unit
Eastleigh Borough Council
023 8068 8000
email:
For further information:-
023 8068 8210
023 8068 8211
Traffic
Light
Trees
A priority scheme for work to trees owned or managed by the Borough Council