Wandsworth Council has been accused of "vandalism" after it was spotted that trees were being pollarded in Chestnut Avenue.
Insane pollarding happening NOW on @SaveChestnutAve!! Tell the press! pic.twitter.com/xi5LOcekfM
— Jane Green (@bethiajanehall) May 10, 2017
Labour Councillor for Balham and Tooting Bec Fleur Anderson has said she is "very concerned" about the "brutal tree cutting".
Very concerned about brutal tree cutting without warning or explanation NOW on Chestnut Avenue. I have written to Cllr Cook. @TootingCommon pic.twitter.com/mFW1LLxC44
— Fleur Anderson (@CllrFleur) May 10, 2017
It's the last moments to enjoy Chestnut Avenue. 8 trees being pollarded/crown reduced today. After. Before #Tooting #SaveChestnutAvenue pic.twitter.com/6PVsFMMjjX
— Laurie Goering (@lauriegoering) May 10, 2017
Goodbye 😢 pic.twitter.com/0GtSp7m610
— Save Chestnut Avenue (@SaveChestnutAve) May 10, 2017
@FrancineForde Pre-inspection confirmed no nests. Contractors ordered to stop immediately if any found. Ignoring this would leave them open to prosecution
— Wandsworth Council (@wandbc) May 10, 2017
Seeing the trees hacked back this severely, now, in their full glory, is heart breaking. With @CllrFleur and @DrRosena on #chestnutavenue pic.twitter.com/PeYv5tchcm
— candidaj (@candidaj) May 10, 2017
@joshcoe80 @CllrFleur @DrRosena @candidaj @TootingCommon @LeonieC @SaveChestnutAve Clear outcome of public consultation was replace all at once and preserve avenue for future generations & offer same gift Victorians gave us
— Wandsworth Council (@wandbc) May 10, 2017
@joshcoe80 @CllrFleur @DrRosena @candidaj @TootingCommon @LeonieC @SaveChestnutAve 3 reports reached same verdict ie trees in decline from old age & disease. This 1 toppled over suddenly last year. Cant risk public safety pic.twitter.com/20jJ935fX2
— Wandsworth Council (@wandbc) May 10, 2017
Pollarding is a pruning system by which branches are removed.
Labour parliamentary candidate for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who has written to the council twice to rethink the tree works, has said she is "rallying the troops" to stage a protest at 2.30pm today (May 10).
PROTEST: join us on the avenue at 2.30pm. Rosena will be in attendance - will @DanWatkins? Bring as many as you can! pic.twitter.com/WnlNbtaZRz
— Save Chestnut Avenue (@SaveChestnutAve) May 10, 2017
Dr Allin-Khan said: "We have two questions. One, if these emergency works were identified as necessary last year why wait until now to carry them out?
"Two, if only eight trees need this action to be taken, can the council now agree that the rest of trees can be saved and drop plans to cut them down?"
Dan Watkins, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Tooting, said: "I understand that the pollarding of eight of the trees at the current time is essential as they are the trees posing the highest safety risk to the public.
"However, before the larger tree felling project is commenced, I have called for a meeting of the different tree experts who have produced recommendations for the future of these trees, to see if a scientific consensus of their safety risk can be reached, and then a corresponding action plan be agreed with the council."
There has been an ongoing dispute between the council and campaigners over whether the trees in Chestnut Avenue on Tooting Common should be cut down or not.
Through several independent surveys, the council argued the trees are in "serious decline". There was a public consultation and the decision was made to remove the trees.
However, a new report came to light recently that claimed the trees are "recovering" and have "the potential to live for at least several decades and many for much longer".
Tree consultant and specialist in heritage tree assessment Jeremy Barrell was behind the report. He concluded: "My assessment of the trees is that none are dangerous, none are dead, and most have the potential to be retained with limited intervention for decades.
"Wandsworth Council are justifying the removals on the basis of responses from a public consultation and the advice of experts.
"From what I can see the public consultation approach is obviously flawed and none of the expert reports advocate felling and replacement as the best or only option".
The council lambasted Mr Barrell’s report, saying it was "disappointing" he had come "to such strident and one-sided conclusions when he has, according to his own report, only carried out a cursory inspection of these trees and, again by his own admission, not actually read all the evidence we have compiled."
Although Wandsworth Council announced on April 11 "essential tree works" would be carried on the area, it did not specify when.
A petition to save the trees has 5,180 signatures.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here