Weeping willow at Exe Bridges greatly reduced

Case reference: 13126336

Date submitted: 04/07/2022
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Request: A large Weeping Willow was recently removed at Exe Bridges. Can you please advise on the following:

1) Who owns the land
2) Who carried out the works
3) Who made the decision
4) Replacement tree strategy
5) Cost of the works (as this does come out of the public funds)​

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Response: 

Dear Terence,

Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Reference – 13126336

Thank you for your request under the Environmental Information Regulations. You can find Devon County Council’s response in this Tree At Exe Bridges post on our disclosure log.

Please note that Devon County Council publishes most Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations request responses on its disclosure log. The Council requests that members of the public make use of its disclosure log search facility before making an information request, as it is possible the information sought, may already be published.

If you are unhappy with the response you have received, please email [email protected] with your concerns. If your complaint is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, you will have the right to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

I hope this information is of assistance to you. 

=== https://www.devon.gov.uk/accesstoinformation/information_request/tree-at-exe-bridges/ ===

A large Weeping Willow was recently removed at Exe Bridges. Can you please advise on the following:

1) Who owns the land

Devon County Council (DCC) do not hold this information. We can tell you that the tree is growing from unregistered land.

2) Who carried out the works

Teign Trees and Landscapes Ltd carried out the works on behalf of DCC Highways.

3) Who made the decision

Three qualified tree surveyors determined that the tree needed surgery in order to mitigate the risk it posed to users of the highway. The ultimate decision to carry out the pollard to the willow in order to retain the tree but mitigate the risk, was made by DCC’s Corporate Tree Officer.

4) Replacement tree strategy

We offset losses of trees felled for safety reasons (it should be noted that this tree was not felled and is not dead) by providing financial and other support to the Devon Wildlife Trust’s ‘Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project’. Further information on our replacement tree strategy can be found on this DCC webpage

5) Cost of the works (as this does come out of the public funds)

DCC do not hold this information as the contractor has not invoiced us yet. However, through the Council’s Tree Surgery Framework Contract we have very competitive rates for tree surgery and the cost will be insignificant in relation to the Council’s overall Tree Safety Management budget.