Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Bob Hare has accused the Council of showing a disregard for tree protection in Haringey. The comment comes after the discovery that the Council has been using trees as notice boards, nailing signs regarding fire safety and fly-tipping at a number of sites in the area including Western Road and outside Tottenham Town Hall.

The issue was brought to Cllr Hare’s attention by local conservation group the Tree Trust. Despite the Trust writing to the Council, the signs are still there a year later. They see this as the latest in a long run of very poor practice by the Council that include inadequate use of tree protection legislation and damage to trees by reckless Council contractors with lawn mowers and strimmers.

Highgate councillor Bob Hare, who co-founded the Tree Trust, believes that the Council is setting a bad example to the public by showing a disregard for the trees in the borough. He will be pressing them to set a better example and start taking more responsibility for the care and protection of trees in the borough.

Cllr Hare (Highgate) comments:

“We are very concerned about the Council’s lack of care for trees in the borough. The kind of example that they are setting is having a knock on effect with developers removing trees without consent and the Council showing an unwillingness to use tree protection legislation.

“The use of trees as notice boards just epitomises the Council’s disregard. Haringey Council must lead by example and make it clear that damage and vandalism of trees is as unacceptable as fly-tipping or graffiti.”