Tree management
Information about Southampton City Council owned trees.
Contact Details:
Address: Trees Team
Open Spaces Department
Ground Floor Civic Centre
Southampton
Postcode: SO14 7NG
Telephone: 0800 5 19 19 19
Minicom: 023 8083 2789
Email: trees@southampton.gov.uk
Fax: 023 8023 1384
Details of service:
STORMS
Southampton's Tree operational management system, known as STORMS, is a new system of tree inspection and management for trees owned by Southampton City Council.
It is a proactive system for managing the risk of trees causing injury or damage as a result of their failure; it does not address other forms of damage that may be caused by trees, for example subsidence or root damage. The system aims to manage risk effectively and provide an audit trail and history. It therefore enables actions and inspections to be carried out according to the potential risk of a tree.
STORMS incorporates tree risk management, city tree maintenance, tree planting programme and emergency response.
STORMS separately assesses the risk and hazard of trees. The risk is location based and is the likelihood of a hazard occurring. The hazard is linked to the individual tree and has the potential to cause harm.
The city is divided into risk zones that are defined according to usage. Within these zones, all individual trees are assessed to identify the hazard they may present. The software then produces inspection schedules based on the risk zone and hazard assessment. Any work through these inspections will be prioritised according to urgency.
Customer enquiries will initially follow the Traffic Light Trees protocol, but as the STORMS system develops information will be provided explaining how to request tree work.
The initial risk based survey of trees to determine hazard ratings is underway and should be completed by October 2007.
Further detailed information can be found in the full document, STORMS operating principles and standards which is available from the trees team.
Traffic Light Trees
The trees team receives approximately 2000 enquiries every year. It is essential that the works are prioritised to ensure that the number one concern of public safety is addressed. Any tree that is immediately dangerous is considered an emergency and dealt with right away.
Requests for work on council trees are categorised according to the traffic light trees system. The process takes account of how urgent the work is and whether the tree is dangerous or a threat to public safety. A tree officer will visit and inspect the site to access the tree and decide which category is appropriate.
The categories are as follows:
Red - tree needs urgent attention and works will be carried out within 12 weeks.
Amber - tree needs attention to stop it becoming dangerous and will be worked on within 6 months.
Green - tree works are not essential but are carried out as part of the council's good neighbour policy. Generally green category trees require works such as removing branches that significantly overhang gardens. Only 10% of all work is available for these works so only selected green category works will be carried out within a maximum of 18 months of the enquiry.
Please note there are some works that fall into the green category that the city council is unable to undertake, these are:
Trees affecting television reception
Trees obstructing light
Fruit falling from trees
Trees obstructing views
If you would like to report a tree that needs inspection please complete the online form, call Actionline or email the trees team. Please call the Actionline to report emergency tree enquiries, this includes fallen trees, broken branches and hanging broken branches.
For enquires about council owned hedges, leaves, conkers and pine cones on footpaths or roads please contact Actionline. The enquiry will be logged and dealt with by the cleansing and grounds maintenance teams.
For enquiries about privately owned trees overhanging the highway please contact Actionline. The enquiry will be logged and dealt with by the Highways teams.
Tree Planting
If a Council owned tree is removed for any reason, two trees are planted as replacement. This may be at the location of the original tree if possible or at another city location.
All trees on council owned land are dealt with as though they were subject to a tree preservation order.
A request for further information about replacement trees may be made by contacting the Actionline. The information will be passed to the Trees Team.
Last updated: 11 December 2007
