I have received a number of emails over recent weeks from constituents understandably very concerned about the removal of a plane tree on Oakfield Road which is due to be felled as insurers claim it to be causing subsidence.

I have previously contacted the Council about this, visited the tree and attended a meeting with Officers, Councillors and members of the community. In Parliament for some time now I have been raising concerns about the major power imbalance between insurance companies and the local community including councils when it comes to trees that are claimed to be causing subsidence. I have written to Ministers and submitted several Written Questions on this, calling for more power within local communities to block tree fellings where there are alternative and more sustainable solutions to reducing the risk of subsidence, such as underpinning.

I was pleased to see in response to one of my Questions last summer that a new guidance on a Duty to Consult measure will be implemented this year, which will encourage councils to engage with the community before felling any tree. In a letter to the Minister earlier this month, I asked for clarity on when this will be introduced. In addition to this, it is also imperative that this measure is met with the power and resources to challenge insurance companies when a claim is made. Without this, councils will only be put under further strain. This is a major issue I know extends well beyond Haringey and local authorities are at the mercy of developers and buildings insurance companies when it comes to insurance claims. I will continue to find opportunities to raise this in Parliament.

Catherine