roadside trees

[martingarwood]

My wood in Goudhurst has a boundary with a minor road. I have a couple of legal questions ....If one of the trees rooted on my plot falls into the road and takes out the BT line for example, am I responsible ? If one of the branches that overhang the boundary breaks off and takes down the BT is that my responsibility too ???? Any thoughts ?

[tracy]

I spent an hour trying to find out! BT are impossible to get hold of, I have finally sent a message somewhere!

Southern Electric are more helpful - if a tree needs removing, you can call their emergency team and they will come and cut it, free of charge. Of course, that means you need to know which company the line belongs to....

Didn\'t get to find out what happens if it uproots. I think I will stop and ask the next BT man and Electric man I see, it will be easier than trying to phone them!

Tracy

[simon]

We have found both BT and Power line Co are helpful and will usually come out if a tree falls on the lines- particularly with Power it should of course be left to them. Also if you think a tree is dangerously close they will usually deal with it.

[tracy]

I have an answer!

I met a BT engineer in Rye, and grilled him... much better than trying to phone.

If a tree is old, dangerous, hanging over a line and it falls on the line, the landowner will be charged for the work

If it uproots in a storm, BT will do the clearing and fixing free of charge.

If you want to deal with the trees before they fall, you need to get someone in to do it and pay them (not BT). This would mean a tree surgeon/ climber and alll the insurance and equipment.

If while the tree expert is dealing with it and it goes wrong and breaks the line, the landowner has to pay.

Hope that makes sense.

BT no longer deal with the problem in advance- they don\'t have tree teams anymore.

Now I just need to bump onto in electricity engineer....

[martingarwood]

Thank you for looking into this...really helpful >the problem has arisen from my getting half an acre along the road boundary coppiced. With the chestnut removed the trees that remain outside my fence along the roadside look very vulnerable to wind now....but from what you say they are not really my problem and if the wind brings them down, so be it !

[scholfield]

We should be aware of any underground pipes and cables crossing our woodland. These will have been brought to our attention through searches when purchased.

Overhead.

First check to see if any overhead lines on or fronting your land are electricity or telephone.

Electricity lines. The regional transmission companies manage their overhead lines, in the Southeast it seems to be EDF Networks their main contact no. is: 0845 601 4516. http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/networks/about-networks/index.shtml They will keep their lines clear but if you have a line with trees near or leaning on them phone and they will come and clear the lines. Obviously don’t touch a tree leaning on a power line, the cables have not insulation! Maintaining clear lines is their responsibility but they will ask permission when doing routine clearing. Make sure their contractors do a tidy job!

Telephone. BT look after their own lines, after a fashion. BT do not do routine clearing but take the view that if the lines are still up and have no faults then they are left to look after themselves weaving through the tree tops. If a tree falls on a telephone line causing a fault or wears through the insulation then they will send out their telephone engineers with a tree contractor and do the repairs and any tree clearing, all at their cost.

If you have a tree which, for some other reason, you want to fell next to a telephone line then contact BT and they will come and drop the line while you fell. To contact the relevant department take the numbers on the nearest poles, find the nearest phone number (to help them locate your site) and call faults. They will put you through to the relevant department.

Some roadside trees will be Highways responsibility. In 20 years we’ve never been asked to contribute to any line clearance!

[greyman]

Of course the insurance company that you will have for your public liability insurance with will probably think differently. You should also understand that if your trees fall onto the highway and the council come and clear it up you will be billed for it - there is a case rumbling around at the moment mentioned else where on the forum that discusses this. We think this will come under 'statury charges and will not be covered by standard insurance policies but that may be open to discussion.

I am concerned that throughout this forum very few people are concerned about their woodland insurance as they should be. Even at it's basic level the RAP insurance does cover you for third party damages but does stipulate you must look after your trees. If you know that works carried out on your land may have made the remaining trees susceptible to weather conditions etc you should be doing something about it. Even on a moral standpoint would you really say that someone else should pick up the bill if one of your trees falls on a car, horse rider etc, etc.

[tracy]

I wonder if 'assessing tree safety' could be a topic at the next SWOG meeting?