Foot path being blocked by tree

Updates

• A Highway Officer will carry out an initial assessment of the tree, emergency issues will be corrected or made safe at the time of the inspection, if reasonably practicable to do so. In this context, making safe may constitute displaying warning notices, coning‐off or fencing‐off to protect the public from the tree or other suitable action.

  If the inspection team cannot make safe the defect at the time of inspection, then they will instigate the relevant emergency call procedures to ensure appropriate resources are mobilised to make the tree safe. Not all Highway Officers are not qualified as tree experts and in some cases they may need to arrange for a tree surgeon to visit the site and carry out a survey on the tree which can take up to 12 weeks.

  There may also be occasions when the issue reported will be classified as a minor defect and does not pose any risk to either the safety or the integrity of the highway, these are called minimum recording levels as specified in our Highways Safety Inspection Policy, in these cases no action will be taken.

  We do not prune or remove council owned trees to improve natural light for a private property (including obstruction of solar panels). If you wish to carry out any work on a tree, you must first check the tree is not protected before any work is started. How to find out if a tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in Buckinghamshire.

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 17:51, Sun 11 May 2025

• Update

  We have reviewed the issue reported and have amended the category; this will ensure your report is directed to the most appropriate team at the council.

  State changed to: For Triage

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 08:14, Mon 12 May 2025

• Update

  We have inspected the issue reported and have reviewed the category selected.

  The category has been changed to ensure it is passed to the correct team.

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 12:31, Fri 23 May 2025

• All wild birds are protected. This includes their nests (whilst in use or being built) as well as any eggs the nest may contain. Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), it is an offence to:

  • intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
  • intentionally damage, destroy or take the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built (nests of golden eagle, white tailed eagle and osprey are protected all year round)
  • intentionally destroy an egg of any wild bird
  • intentionally or recklessly disturb certain wild birds or their dependent young while they are nesting (including disturbance of nesting young)

  Although no dates are legally stated between which hedges cannot be trimmed, cut, laid or coppiced, the main bird breeding season is recognised as being between 1 March and 31 July which we adhere to. Please note, if the issue reported is classified by our Highway Officer as an emergency, arrangements will be made to make the hedge safe for both road and pedestrian users in line with our Highways Safety Inspection Policy.

  State changed to: Open

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 14:06, Fri 25 July 2025

• State changed to: Action scheduled

  Updated by Buckinghamshire Council at 10:15, Mon 28 July 2025