Oakfield Road Plane Tree Template Letter

Written By Jo Syz

The Oakfield Road Plane Tree currently has a 4 week Public Consultation about its proposed felling by Haringey Council. Below is a template letter you can use to make comments on the consultation. (This is part of the new legislation The Public Duty to Consult when Felling Street Trees, Environment Act 2021). Deadline is June 17th.

TEMPLATE PUBLIC CONSULTATION RESPONSE - Read, the text below for our key opposition points. If you have very little time, you can cut and paste it onto the council’s online form. BUT ideally you will get some ideas from it and adapt and personalise your own submission. if possible, you can write your own objection.

3 OPTIONS TO FEED BACK - anyone inside or outside borough can respond!

IMPORTANT TO Include:

  • Duty to Consult reference number - 17TR000044

  • Your Name

  • Your Address, Your Post code

  • Contact telephone number

 PLEASE read, then use/ adapt the following text - or write your own submission!OUR SUGGESTED RESPONSE:

I am OPPOSED to the felling of the Oakfield Road plane tree because:

  1. The tree is healthy and vigorous - it’s of great asset value to the local community, helps cools our streets, disperse flood water, absorb pollution, support wildlife and biodiversity. It has stood for 120 years in our conservation area. Trees are proven to add value to an area and prevent crime.

  2. Both nearby houses (63/61) are now to be underpinned and there’s no evidence that once underpinned there is a risk of future damage to nearby houses, particularly if the tree is properly managed. It is not rational or a good use of council resources to maintain the decision to fell this tree. Following this logic, all trees will be felled.

  3. Trees should not be felled just in case there is ‘future risk.’ If this tree goes all mature trees in Haringey could be felled for implied or ‘future risk’. In Haringey’s Tree and Woodlands Plan they state: ‘Tree removal or pruning will NOT BE UNDERTAKEN where […] THERE IS A PERCEIVED RISK THAT SUBSIDENCE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR IN THE FUTURE’ (appendix 1, Tree and Woodland Plan, 2022)

  4. There is a considerable risk that removing the tree will cause damage to the houses through ‘heave.’ Information on heave is historically not gathered by the council and further supressed by insurers as it benefits insurers (in this case, Aviva and Allianz) to blame trees.

  5. Solutions to manage street trees and prevent felling should be fully trialled for a reasonable period. The Oakfield Plane Tree has not been pollarded for at least 2 years, it requires better management including a carefully engineered soil pit, water delivery options etc - community efforts have not even been considered. Haringey points to no independent monitoring of the tree and the adjacent properties as best practice requires. Other options to manage the Oakfield Plane Tree should be tried and then monitored for a reasonable period after the nearby houses are underpinned and the decision to fell then reviewed. The annual net ecological benefit of planting a large species tree is 92% greater than planting a small one. It’s like replacing a £1 coin with a penny.

  6. In a time of climate breakdown and rising urban temperatures, the protection of mature street trees and increasing canopy must be a priority to protect local communities and wildlife. This accords with Haringey Council’s publicly stated policies.

  7. ADD your own ideas and response.

Jo Syz
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