Bristol City Council has today (March 16) begun cutting down a 70ft tall tree in Horfield under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act. Residents have labelled the decision as "ridiculous" based upon the criteria that was matched to justify the felling.
A man tried to oppose the felling of the evergreens earlier today by sitting in the trees, which neighbours say are popular with children who play in them and animals such as birds, squirrels and other wildlife. However, his protest was unsuccessful, with the job set to be completed by the end of the day tomorrow (March 17).
The 70ft tall evergreens on Druetts Close will take two days to be removed after a tree-felling notice was stapled to them last year. The notice stated: “Trees causing a nuisance as defined by the Anti-Social Behaviour Act – High Hedges section 8.”
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The tree has been allowed to be felled after being legally defined as a hedge. Therefore, under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act, it's deemed to be a nuisance.
The council has said it is just following national legislation which “designates this type of tree as a hedge”. It says it is taking the action to remove the trees, which overlook back gardens of properties in Rodbourne Road, following a complaint.
The team responsible for the felling of the 70ft tree in Horfield is the same team that was responsible for the removal of a huge tree from the River Avon in St Anne's over the weekend.
Council's reasoning
Responding to criticism in July, a Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The action being taken is not a matter of council policy but is to ensure compliance with national legislation, which designates this type of tree as a hedge. We are responding to a complaint about the hedge, in line with the legislation, and have reviewed the options available to us.
“Reducing these trees to the necessary size would leave them unlikely to survive and removing and replanting the tree has been agreed as the best option. We’re also investigating and offering further tree-planting spots to bring us closer to our aim of doubling the city’s tree canopy by 2046.’’
The council confirmed that “removing and replanting” meant chopping down the pair of trees and planting replacements of a type and a location to be decided. The Act defines 'high hedges' as "a barrier to light or access formed wholly or predominantly by a line of two or more evergreens".
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