The Council is not responsible for trees it does not own. It has no legal obligation to take action and is not liable for damage caused by trees owned by others.
On Council owned trees we will normally agree to:
- Remove trees or branches that pose a significant risk.
- Maintain statutory clearances above the road and footways
- Clear growth that is obscuring street lights and signs
- Prune to clear growth that is in contact with your property (if reasonably beyond the scope of the resident to remedy the problem)
- Prune our trees if they are causing a significant nuisance that is beyond the scope of the resident to remedy
We will not normally agree to prune or fell our trees when the issue is:
- A minor case of loss of light or shading – including solar & photovoltaic cells
- Because of leaf litter (including fruit and twigs)
- For minor incursion caused by branches
- To create or to reinstate views
- Because of bird droppings or honey dew etc
- Because of poor TV/Satellite reception
- To clear telephone lines; unless requested to do so in writing by the service provider
What you can do yourself
You have the common law right to prune vegetation (including roots) that crosses your boundary so long as you observe the following:
- Before carrying out any tree work it is your responsibility to ensure that there are no legal constraints such as Tree Preservation Orders or restrictions imposed within a Conservation Area. This can be checked by calling the Council Planning department
- You may only prune the vegetation back to your boundary and then only if the work done is not detrimental to the long term health or stability of the tree or shrub.
- The work you carry out does not destroy or make the tree unsafe. Cutting major roots will affect the stability of a tree and you may be liable if an accident occurs. We will take legal action if it is considered a Council owned tree has been recklessly or maliciously damaged in this way.
- You should dispose of the cuttings responsibly, dumping them on Council land is unsightly and un-neighbourly and may constitute fly tipping.
Request a tree inspection
You can ask the Council to inspect a tree by completing our online form
Due to the extremely high volume of service requests we have a specific schedule for Tree Inspections and Operations. Routine tree related service requests will be inspected in your area during the month indicated. If work is necessary it will be completed during the following month. Emergency works fall outside this schedule and will be dealt with as soon as possible.
During certain times, for example following a major storm, this schedule may be delayed.
| Month | Inspections | Operations |
|---|---|---|
| January | Oldham East | Oldham West (Town Centre) |
| February | Saddleworth and Lees | Oldham East |
| March | Failsworth and Hollinwood | Saddleworth and Lees |
| April | Chadderton | Failsworth and Hollinwood |
| May | Royton and Shaw | Chadderton |
| June | Oldham West (Town Centre) | Royton and Shaw |
| July | Oldham East | Oldham West (Town Centre) |
| August | Saddleworth and Lees | Oldham East |
| September | Failsworth and Hollinwood | Saddleworth and Lees |
| October | Chadderton | Failsworth and Hollinwood |
| November | Royton and Shaw | Chadderton |
| December | Oldham West (Town Centre) | Royton and Shaw |