Harlow Council issues statement over trees following tragedy in south Essex
News / Mon 7th Jul 2025 at 12:24pm
HARLOW Council has given assurances to residents following the tragic incident in south Essex when a seven-year-old girl died after a tree collapsed on her in a park.
Over the last year, residents have contacted YH concerned at the state of trees. Some have pointed to large “dead branches” concerned that they could fall on someone.
Our pictures show a tree near The Lawn off Fesants Croft but we have also seen branches in Potter Street and Katherines to name just two areas.
A Harlow Council spokesperson said: “We would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of the 7-year-old girl who tragically lost her life in Chalkwell Park. Our thoughts are also with all those affected by this awful incident.
“We have an ongoing inspection programme for the trees in the Town Park. This means that the 4,270 trees in the park are inspected on a regular basis. Trees in high-risk areas within the park, these are areas close to the public, are inspected more regularly to that of low-risk areas. We can confirm that all works required to the trees in the park are currently up to date.
“As part of our Building Harlow’s Future plan, we will implement a new proactive tree maintenance policy for across the town. Work to finalise that policy will now be urgently carried out. The new policy will focus on the better management and enhancement of safety, improving the health and safety and appearance of our trees.
“If residents see a tree on council land which they think is dangerous this should be reported to us on 01279 446655 or on 01279 446666 outside of office hours in an emergency.
“More information on the maintenance of trees can be found on our website
https://www.harlow.gov.uk/environment-and-animals/tree-maintenance”
Chalkwell Park story is below.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k77m8r8n2o
Casual Observer
2025-07-07 13:29:02
Last Tuesday a large tree fell across Hobbs Cross Road between where the bus used to turn around and St. Nicholas School, it happened about 6.30 in the morning before the school run, thankfully no motorist, cyclist or joggers were about at that time, the road was closed and it took until after lunch to clear. Well done to all the mums/dads with the kids who all left their cars and walked to school, little early morning adventure for them, but are there any more dangerous trees in this copse?
Nicholas Taylor
2025-07-07 14:05:45
The event In Chalkwell park serves as a reminder of the responsiblity councils have in respect of tress on their land. The issue of trees has been one of the most frequent ones encountered by Harlow Alliance Party (HAP) members when taiking to residents on the doorstep. The statement today from Harlow Council makes disturbing reading. Back in September 2020, in response to a question from a HAP member, the then Leader of Harlow Council, Councillor Ingall stated that working with HTS a proactive planned maintenance regime would be put in place from April 2021. Because there was little evidence of such work taking place, in July 2021 Councillor Gunn was asked by a HAP member about this subject. He responded by saying that a planned maintenance regime required a survey to form a map of trees which would then be inspected, which would take 2 to 3 years to complete.He went on to say that despite this a planned maintenance programme would start that year. A further year elapsed with little evidence that any proactive work to trees was being carried out so again a HAP member asked Councllor Nicky Purse about this. Her response was that trees were inspected when there is a concern about risk or liability (when a resident has reported such a concern?), only 22,00 trees in the Town Park had been inspected and that the town wide survey would take, as Councillor Gunn had said, 2 to 3 years. It is now nearly 5 years since this matter was first raised and 4 years since we were told a programme of work would be started. It is quite clear that the council has misled residents about progress in getting proactive work undertaken. Such delays could have had untold consequences.
Kevin
2025-07-07 15:21:54
Harlow Council and Essex County Council have failed for years to properly maintain and pollard trees one blaming the other. Trees on all housing estates are in desperate need for pollarding. I told the council of the willow trees at the bottom of Three Horseshoes Road and King's more Road, they removed the one that was upright and left the one leaning over the path and Road and yes this has now been pollarded, but the dangerous part is still over the path. Cherry trees in the Fennells have outgrown themselves and have started dying and this is due to the total lack of care it's disgusting, it's not the fact they are dangerous, the houses by them are so dark they have to have lights on during the day in a time we are told to save energy. The double bend at the top of Three Horshoes Road is so overgrown it is now tight for cars to pass each other and if a bus meets another vehicle one has to go up on the path.
Louise
2025-07-07 21:37:43
It’s a disgrace I have 4 large trees along the side of my house I have contact the council many times they have never maintained them they’ve let them grown out of control but until they actually fall on my house and kill me they won’t do anything
Cliff Moore
2025-07-07 22:01:49
Well over 20 years ago I asked Joel Charles to get the Council to inspect a tree that was growing in their council house garden next door. The next morning, I got the head of the department around to inspect it and after a bit of deliberation it was decided that it was up to the current tenant to do something about it and the tree was "safe" in any case. Since that time and many chase ups, nothing has substantially happened, and this willow tree is probably the tallest tree in the neighbourhood - and this in a single bungalow garden space! Also, debris from this tree outside the garden has been allowed to build up all that time with no clearance apparently ever being done and I imagine no estate inspection being carried out about the mess. Well, you can only bang your head against a brick wall so many times - so one day a large branch will fall from this tree with who knows what consequences.
TonyB
2025-07-07 22:47:31
A walk in the woods or even on a cycle track enclosed by trees can be considered dangerous, especially in windy conditions. I've had to run before when I've heard the crack of a tree falling. The problem is, which way to run? I'm sorry to say that's life. elf and safety can go to extremes. When the Harlow corporation was in charge of the town, does anyone else remember growing up in Harlow when getting injured as a kid was normal?
Jasper
2025-07-07 23:27:33
Do not the gardeners when doing there normal duties have the foresight to report trees and large bushes that are dangerous to their managers for further inspection and correct action taken. They are supposed to have their own patch to look after so we are told.
Bob's your uncle
2025-07-08 06:07:56
Looking at your picture, it's not the tree you need to worry about its the leaning tower of the Lawn that worries me.🫣
Stuart
2025-07-08 08:02:06
There's a very large tree bough down on Hodings Road this morning near Hester House. Must have come down over night. Fortunate someone wasn't walking under it at the time as it's completely covered the footpath and is sticking out into the road.
nogin the nog
2025-07-08 09:28:16
i have a large tree the side of my house last year a branch 8 inches wide fell of it the council came round and took it away i arsk them to prune it back thay refused it has gone wild no sun in the garden makes the house dark it is much taller then the house it is a nightmare i have complained many times and to my local councilor nothing gets done
David Forman
2025-07-08 09:41:31
I fully agree with Cliff Moore's comments about the willow tree, it needs some maintenance. As for Nicholas Taylor, I actually met one of the council's tree surveyors in Bishopsfield back in April 2022. He was part of a specialist company contracted to do the town wide survey. So it is only three years ago, so maybe the process has overrun?
David Forman
2025-07-08 09:49:44
I found a Harlow Council news item from January 2023 saying they surveyed over 6000 trees in the Town Park. See https://www.harlow.gov.uk/events/town-park-tree-walk
Adrienne
2025-07-10 20:50:23
I think last week was exceptionally windy. You can maintain dangerous trees but when the weather is very windy trees are affected.The roots can get shaken loose .Branches can break. Sometimes you have no control over nature . .It is very sad for the family.And I am very sorry for the loss of their beautiful child.xxx
Christine Dorman
2025-07-17 08:57:38
There's a very large tree to the side of my property in Spencers Croft that has been allowed to get ridiculously big and is now leaning towards our property. I have contacted the council about getting it cut back, as it now touches our property and overhangs the public footpath so adults with their children walking to go to Holy Cross Primary School and Passmores Secondary School have to duck to get under the branches. To date I've still not had a response. There's also a very tall dead fir tree opposite my property that now leans towards a block of flats that has never been tended to either. On recent walks, I have noticed another tree in Longfield where the branches are now only 2 ft off the ground so you have to walk on someone's front garden to get past it. Also bushes are so overgrown with weeds, thistles, nettles and brambles etc that you snag your clothes walking along the footpaths and some I haven't been able to walk down at all!! Come on Harlow Council, pull your finger out and tidy our town up!!
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