Dead and dangerous trees

If you are the owner of a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or is in a Conservation Area and you wish to do works to it because it is dead or imminently dangerous you must first provide the Council with written notice and include with it the information required.

To seek the Council's consent to work on a dead or dangerous tree, please fill in the application form below, ensuring that the checklist is followed and emailed to planning@runnymede.gov.uk

• Five Day Notice Application Form (PDF 46.16 KB)

Any tree which is protected and allowed to be felled under a 5 day notice is required by the legislation to be replaced.  Any replacement tree will automatically be covered by the original Tree Preservation Order.  You will be asked to supply the tree by condition during the notification period and to provide evidence of the planted tree once it is in.

Once we have received the required information we will inform you that the 5 day notice period has begun. During this time consent may be granted or refused. If you receive confirmation that the 5 day period has begun and then do not hear from us within the 5 days, we would advise you to contact us prior to commencing any works. Any decision will be given in writing.

If a dangerous tree (TPO or Conservation Area) poses an immediate risk of serious harm, so that it requires urgent work that cannot wait for the period of a 5 day notice you should take photos, contract a tree surgeon to do only what work is necessary to remove the immediate risk and give the Council written notice as soon as possible. Photos must evidence that the tree posed an immediate threat.

If a tree is not an imminent or immediate danger a full tree application should be submitted. Further information about exempt works to protected trees can be found on the Government website under Tree Preservation Orders and trees in Conservation Areas.