The tree patrol are out in force and have been since about 9am.
This isn't a complaint about noise (although it is making a huge racket) but I'm a bit concerned and curious about what they're doing.

They seem to be quite radically cutting back trees nearby. Not being a tree surgeon myself I can't comment on whether this falls into general tree maintenance or removal. It has been going on for hours now.

I suppose a call to the environmental services at LB is next, but I wondered if others knew what was going on, and why.

I'm also concerned because my block is overlooked by the flats opposite and it's only the trees that give us some much needed privacy.

Oh well, I'd better make that call.

Council say I'm outside the conservation area and if the trees don't have a preservation order, there's nothing I can do.

Also, because I wasn't able to give them an exact address where this work is taking place, they can't tell me if a planning decision has been granted to allow removal of trees.

Thought I'd pass this on in case this is useful for others to know.

Am going out now, because it's depressing listening to it going on!

which trees are being worked on? the ones on the road itself were worked on a few years ago and wouldn't need any more attention for a good long time now.

Seems to be the white block next to Fairbank and opposite FitzWilliam Heights. Don't know what it's called unfortunately, which limited the information the council could give me.

The work is being done around Milner House, which is outside the conservation area, so no permissions is required. However, there were planning conditions from before the flats were built, so a planning application (approval of detail) was submitted to the council - see http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...mkey=63707

But the planning application is just for a few trees, others don't need them.

Hopefully the work (which will be going on for a few days) will including tidying some of the areas that have become seriously overgrown and make it difficult to walk on the pavement and neighbouring paths. At the same time I am expecting to finally get some light into my back garden so that the lawn and the vegetables might be able to grow without a four storey sycamore tree killing everything (although I'm told that they won't actually reduce the height - which is a shame).

Michael I'm aware of the proposals to trim back the Sycamore around Milner/Fairbank. I'm talking about a different area being worked on.

This is taking place beyond the perimeter fencing around both buildings and the council could not identify the nature of this work. We discussed the proposed work you pinpointed and of course they have information about that.

I have to say I'm not aware other trees in Taymount are causing the problems you describe.

Since Able Trees, the contractor for Southern Housing were on site today, I can only assume that it was them undertaking the work you describe.

I do hope that they don't do anything detrimental to your privacy and outlook as that is not why I and others have been pestering Southern Housing for the last 2-3 years. It is about time they did something about the state of the trees on their property.

I think the white block you are referring to is a single house above the garages in Grassmount. They no longer have the branches of trees scrapping their windows after the work to cut them back. The pathway beside that house now gets more light and will be less dangerous during the darker evenings.

It's now all looking very bare.

I'll just have to keep my curtains shut. :-(

But if the trees really were that overgrown and overshadowing the path, I guess something had to be done. It just all looks very sparse now.