Tree roots lifting a public footpath or pavement

You can report trees where they are causing damage to public footpaths and pavements, causing them to lift and become trip hazards.

We avoid pruning tree roots wherever possible as this can make the tree unstable.

Instead, we will try to raise the level of the path above the roots. If this does not remove the trip hazard, we will seek specialist advice to find a solution that won't weaken the tree.

Report tree roots lifting a public footpath or pavement

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What happens next?

Before we carry out any work, we will inspect the flags to assess the extent of the hazard. We aim to do this within 5 working days.

If we decide that repairs are needed, we aim to do this within 25 days, or within 2 hours where we assess it as urgent works.