Gorgeous tree is gone Post Reply

[greentreehelp]

I am sadly writing on behalf of many residents of Wix's Lane and Taybridge Road (Clapham Common Northside) in Wandsworth to let you know that without any advance warning or consultation with its local community, private school Eaton House The Manor School began cutting down a local landmark, a 100 year old tree, at 8am 24th July. The tree is at the back of the school.

A sad day, hard to comprehend perhaps, unless you live here but the school doesn't care, for them its just a place of work and a place to run their private business.

The school administration tried to make up a story that tree is ill, but once confronted with local residents ,dropped this story.
What is the real reason for cutting down such gorgeous tree is a
good question.
Who made that decision is still remain unanswered by the School administration.
Sad,sad day.They are still there cutting it down............
They do not live here.WE DO!

[coolmum]

'Gorgeous tree' post fine but you've repeated your post again but with the title 'Clapham tradegy'. I thought someone had been killed. A bit extreme.

[Writerlady]

That does indeed seem a real shame. I have children at that school and had no idea this was planned. Had never heard anything about it being diseased or dangerous.

[SoConfused!]

Could not agree more Coolmum... thought there had been some horrendous accident or something.

But to the original poster ... its not actually that easy to cut down an old tree in Wandwosrth. Trees are "protected" and even if you wanted to cut down a tree in your back garden you would have to apply to Wandsworth Council for permission.

I think its horribly sad to see a tree cut down and I understand why the neighbourhood would be upset but they would have had to have a pretty good reason for doing it to get the necessary permissions.

[supergirl]

Well only if they have asked for permission...
One phone call to the council will tell you.

If they havent asked for permission you should report them.

But why it took one minth to find out, you mentionned 25th june in your other post?

[greentreehelp]

We phoned the council,they came very quickly, couldn't do anything and left.This tree wasn't protected and they knew it.Didn't tell anything to the residents.They knew we would have said - no.We went to the school today at 8 am .........

[MGMidget]

Was there a tree preservation order on the tree? The council should be able to tell you. If there was they would need to have got permission from the council and hence given a reason for cutting it down. Unfortunately that won't make any difference now though.

[greentreehelp]

No it wasn't.Nobody thought that such a gorgeous tree can be removed...

[lamj1974]

Although that's a real shame you should really be careful when putting "clap ham tragedy" as a posting. I thought somebody had been killed or something awful.

[NYE31]

I agree - way too extreme especially after the Killarny Rd tragedy a few months ago.

[NYE31]

A tree being cut down is NOT a tragedy! Like other posters I thought someone had died!

A bit insensitive after the Killarny Rd tragedy a few months ago.

[Karin1979]

Tragedy?? Please, get a life ...

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi
I merged the two threads on this topic as I thought best to pull all the comments together. That is why earlier comments about repeating oneself might not make sense to users visiting this subject for the first time.

Thanks

A

[rugby]

Which tree

Surely not the copper beech directly behind the main building?

[Claire M]

As I have children at the school I have followed this up with them.

The tree was badly diseased (hopefully I have managed to attach photos) and was suffering from root damage.

It was agreed by the Wandsworth tree officer and the tree surgeons that it was dangerous - particularly in high winds.

The tree has not been cut down - it has been "pollard" by professional tree suregeons to 18 feet to ensure the safety of the children and the survival of the tree.

Claire

Tree Pictures.pdf

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