Sign in to access your Salford customer account, or see our other accounts.
Sign in or register for an accountSalford has an adopted tree management policy. The aim of the policy is to set the approach for Salford City Council in the management of trees located on city council owned land.
It acts as a source of information and reference regarding trees on city council land and as a framework for any decisions with regard to the management of trees.
Ash dieback is a serious disease affecting ash trees. It is caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.
Signs of ash dieback include:
The disease is fatal to ash trees and can weaken them, posing a safety risk if they fall. Removing infected trees helps prevent further spread and protects public safety.
If you spot signs of ash dieback, report it to us below:
The city's tree preservation orders/conservation areas are plotted on our interactive maps. On the mapping layer you should ensure that the TPO and Conservation Area layers are ticked under planning.
You can view sections of the policy below or download the whole policy at the bottom of the page.
Tree Preservation Orders
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are made by the council to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity for example if their removal would have a significant negative impact on the local environment and its enjoyment by the public. Many trees in Salford are protected by TPOs.
Apply for a Tree Preservation Order
Where a TPO is made under Section 198 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 and related regulations, the tree or group of trees are identified on a location plan. Copies of the order are served on the owners of land upon which the trees are growing, and on the owner occupiers of affected and joining properties.
Details of which trees are protected can be obtained online.
A TPO prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the written consent of the council. In certain circumstances, such consent may be given for example in order to accommodate development, but the TPO enables the council to set conditions and control these actions which can include a requirement to obtain new planting to replace trees which are removed. You can formally request the council’s consent to works being undertaken on trees protected by a TPO online.
There is no fee involved.
If a tree is cut down, topped, lopped, uprooted, wilfully destroyed or wilfully damaged this is in contravention of a TPO, the responsible person may be criminally prosecuted and liable to pay a substantial fine.
Trees in conservation areas
Trees in conservation areas are also subject to special provisions found in Sections 211-214 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Anyone wishing to fell, prune, or uproot trees in a conservation area, must give the council six weeks' written notice.
Work must not be carried out within that notice period without the consent of the council, otherwise penalties may be incurred. The regulations made under this act give certain exemptions from this requirement, and applicants are advised to contact the development control section if they are in any doubts about the procedures.
Notice of intention to carry out work to trees in conservation areas must be given in writing and include an accurate plan indicating the location of the tree(s). Details can be found on our Tree Preservation Orders page.
Please note that if a tree or group of trees are situated in a conservation area but are also protected by a Tree Preservation Order then the order must be adhered to and any requests to carry out works on such trees must be made via the process detailed above.
You can find out more about conservation areas in Salford online.
Trees on private land
The council is not under any duty, statutorily or at common law, to take any action in relation to trees on private land.
A tree belongs to the owner of the land on which it is growing, and under Common Law, that person is responsible for managing and maintaining it so that it is not a nuisance to anyone else. Similarly, the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984 place a duty of care on occupiers to ensure that their trees are not a danger to others.
However, under Section 23 of the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976 the council has powers to deal with dangerous trees. If the council considers that a tree is in such condition that there is imminent danger of it causing damage to persons or property it can:
It is expected that private parties will take care of their own responsibilities and therefore the council should not be considered as the first point of contact in attempting to resolve concerns about the danger posed by trees in private ownership. The act does not impose a duty to take such action, however the council will intervene according to the powers given in the act if an owner of such trees fails to act in a reasonable timescale.
If a privately owned tree is causing an obstruction to a road or other highway, powers exist under the Highways Act 1980, to require the owner of the tree to remove the obstruction. If they do not, the council may serve notice under Section 154 of the Highway Act 1980 to undertake this work and recover all associated costs from the owner.
Tree planting
The city councils policy to tree planting and management is covered in the council’s trees and development supplementary planning document.
The city council will encourage the conservation of trees and woodland by:
Bird droppings
Policy: we will not prune of fell a council tree to remove or reduce bird droppings from trees, or remove bird droppings from private land.
Customer advice:
Blossom
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to remove or reduce blossom from trees or remove fallen blossom from private land.
Customer advice:
Carriageway obstruction due to trees
Policy: we will undertake work to a tree in council ownership to maintain a minimum of 5.2 metre height clearance over the carriageway and 2.1 metre height clearance over the footway where reasonably feasible (associated with a street, road or highway).
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Crime and anti-social behaviour
Policy: where a council owned tree is associated with criminal activity and / or anti-social behaviour, measures to reduce the problem will be considered on a site-by–site basis.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Danger to highway (private tree)
Policy: If a tree in private ownership is shown to be a danger to the highway it will be identified for work to make it reasonably safe. The landowner will be contacted and instructed to make the tree safe under the Highways Act 1980. If it is necessary that the council undertakes this work then the council may serve notice under Section 154 of the Highway Act 1980 and recover all associated costs.
How we will respond:
Danger to land other than highway (private tree)
Policy: If a tree in private ownership is shown to be a danger to a non-highway land it will be identified for work to make it reasonably safe. The landowner will be contacted and instructed to make the tree safe (under the Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1976). If it is necessary that the council undertake this work then the owner will be charged in full for the council’s costs.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Dangerous trees requiring immediate action
Policy: If a council owned tree is found to be in such a condition that it poses a very high risk to people or property and is considered to be an emergency situation, instruction will be given to our tree contractor to make the tree safe within 24 hours. However, in extreme weather conditions where there are several emergencies this timescale may increase.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Signs to look for which may mean that a tree is in such condition to warrant immediate attention include a tree which is:
Signs to look out for which mean that a tree is a risk to people or property but the risk does not require an emergency response include a tree which is:
Dangerous tree requiring action but not imminent danger
Policy: If a tree is identified as dangerous, but the risk to the public is not high then the tree will be made safe depending on the degree of risk identified at the time of inspection.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Signs to look for which may mean that a tree is in such condition to warrant immediate attention include a tree which is:
Signs to look out for which mean that a tree is a risk to people or property but the risk does not require an emergency response include a tree which is:
Trees can be made safe by pruning or felling and we will employ the most cost effective approach.
Drains
Policy: we will not prune, or fell or cut the roots of a council owned tree to prevent roots entering a drain that is already broken or damaged.
Customer advice:
Fruit/berries/nuts
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to remove or reduce the nuisance of fruit/berries or nuts, or remove such fallen fruit from private land. However, where fallen fruit is leading to significant anti-social behaviour problems we will consider measures to reduce the problem including phased removal and replacement with alternative species if reasonable.
Customer advice:
High hedges
Policy: please see our guidance about high hedges.
Leaves
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to remove or reduce leaf fall or remove fallen leaves from private property.
Customer advice:
Light
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to improve natural light in a property.
Customer advice:
Nuisance to third party – private tree
Policy: the council has no authority to intervene in a dispute between neighbours. However, if the problem is due to a high hedge please see our high hedges page.
Customer advice:
Pavement – obstruction
Policy: we will undertake work to a council owned tree to maintain a minimum (where reasonably feasible) 2.1 metre height clearance over a footpath associated with a street, road or highway. Any works necessary to prevent an obstruction in the width of a footpath associated with the highway due to the presence of a council owned tree would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Road – sight lines obstructions
Policy: we will undertake work to a tree in council ownership to maintain clear sight lines (where reasonably feasible) at junctions and access points (associated with a street, road or highway).
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Sap
Policy: we will not prune of fell a council owned tree to remove or reduce honeydew or other sticky residues from trees.
Customer advice:
Solar panels
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to prevent interference with solar panels.
Customer advice:
Street light – obstruction
Policy: when possible the council will undertake work to trees in council ownership to ensure that trees do not unduly obstruct the street light.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
Subsidence damage to property (tree related)
Policy: if you have concerns about tree related damage being caused to buildings and other structures as a result of the action of council owned trees you should contact your insurance advisor for advice.
If you wish to make a formal claim for damages or to formally notify us of your concerns about future damage please download and complete the damage claim form.
Telephone wire
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to remove or reduce interference with telephone wires.
Customer advice:
Trip hazard
Policy: we will undertake measures to make safe an unacceptable trip hazard in the street, road or highway caused by the growth of a council owned tree.
How we will respond:
Customer advice:
The main purpose of highway maintenance is to maintain the adopted highway network for the safe use of pedestrians and motorists. Find out more about highway maintenance.
Tree overhanging property
Policy: we will not prune or fell a tree in council ownership to alleviate the nuisance of overhanging branches.
Customer advice:
Tree and TV / satellite reception
Policy: we will not prune or fell a council owned tree to prevent interference with TV satellite installation/ reception.
Customer advice:
Common Law Right
A Common Law right exists which enables a person to remove (abate) the nuisance associated with trees encroaching onto their property. The below information is general guidance in relation to this area however you should seek your own independent advice if you wish to exercise this Common Law right.
If you are unable to view documents of these types, our downloads page provides links to viewing software.
This page was last updated on 13 August 2024
Your page rating has been successfully submitted.