Call for Hounslow Council to Rethink Felled Trees Policy
Proposal being made not to replace them in order to save costs
A tree being felled on Chiswick High Road. Picture: Peter Hogan
December 20, 2024
Calls are being made to Hounslow Council to rethink a proposal to end the policy of automatically replacing felled trees.
At the moment if a tree dies or has to be removed for other reasons it will automatically be replaced at the same site or close by.
However, as part of a series of proposals drawn up to deal with the council’s budget deficit, this would no longer happen resulting in a saving of £20,000. A similar amount is being cut from the council’s park maintenance budget.
The report recommending the cuts and increases in service charges which reduce to cut the deficit by £12million was presented to the Council Cabinet this Tuesday (17 December) with councillors noting its contents.
Concerns have been raised by some residents about the policy given the age of the tree stock in the borough with many trees over 100-years-old and approaching the end of their natural life. Some claim that they are seeing an increased number of trees being removed due to ill health although there is no data to confirm this is happening. It is feared that if there is no requirement to replace trees, then the pace of felling will accelerate in order to save more money.
The council says its policy is to only remove trees when it is absolutely necessary.
Jack Emsley, Conservative Councillor for Chiswick Homefields, said: “It’s extremely disappointing that Hounslow Council is proposing to stop its policy of replacing felled trees in order to plug its growing budget shortfall. Replacing felled trees helps to maintain a range of environmental benefits, including contributing to cleaner air and natural shade, as well as being crucial to maintaining and enhancing local biodiversity. As opposition councillors, we are calling on the lead member for public spaces to rethink this short sighted decision and protect our local environment.”
Hounslow Council has a target of planting 20,000 trees between 2022 and 2026 and has managed to exceed annual targets in recent years with 8,634 planted in 2022/23 against an initial goal of 7,500. However, in 2023/24 this fell to 5,894 trees. In addition, it has started a "Free Trees for Hounslow" programme, which distributed 948 trees to residents, schools, and allotment holders during the 2022/2023 planting season.
The council has not yet responded to our request for comment on this issue.
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