Tandridge District Council is urging residents to think before they chop – and make sure any trees on their land are not “protected” before they start carrying out work as they may commit a criminal offence without realising it.
There are currently over 800 Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) covering thousands of trees in the Tandridge district and the Tree Team at the district council are concerned that protected trees are being cut down and damaged. It is a criminal offence to carry out any work to a protected tree without the Council’s permission and could lead to a fine of up to £20,000.
There are 19 Conservation Areas in Tandridge. If a tree in a Conservation Area is not already covered by a TPO, six weeks’ written notice must be given to the council about any proposed work. This gives the council the opportunity to consider protecting the tree.
Notice of work on a tree in a conservation area does not need to be given if the tree is less than 7.5 centimetres in diameter, with the measurement taken at 1.5 metres above the ground.
