Ladywell Society has urged the local Green party councillors to take action to ensure planning enforcement officers act swiftly over the unlawful felling of trees.
The society has written to councillors complaining about the unlawful felling of a tree in a front garden in Algiers Road. Ladywell, which is in a conservation area.
A tree management company which had been touting for business in the Ladywell conservation area carried out the work.
A local resident and member of the society reported the incident to the council’s planning enforcement department as no application had been made to fell this tree.
The rules of the conservation area require that a planning applications for any form of work must be made. It is a criminal offence to cut down a tree without prior written consent from the council.
The Ladywell conservation area is also subject to an Article 4 directive, which removes permitted development rights for alterations that front a relevant location.
This means you must apply for planning permission for minor exterior changes to a propety such as replacing windows, doors, or roofs.
The society urges the councillors to remind residents of these restrictions.
Lewisham Council declared a Climate Emergency a few years ago, in recognition of the effects of climate change. It urges councillors to stress the importance of trees in helping to cool streets and gardens.
Separately the society is concerned by the growing number of rogue tree surgeons touting for business in Ladywell and surrounding areas.They usually carry out work that is sometimes unnecessary, overpriced and of a poor standard.
Residents report post cards touting for work being pushed through doors or men door knocking and claiming: “ ‘We were just working around the corner”.