Brighton And Hove Council Urged To Improve Communication On Tree Felling

Councillors in Brighton and Hove have highlighted the need for clearer communication with residents when trees are felled due to disease and pests.

A range of tree diseases and pests — including elm disease, ash dieback, zigzag sawfly, oak processionary moth, and horse chestnut pathogens — have swept through the city, leading to hundreds of trees being removed as a precaution.

Labour councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for sports, recreation, and libraries, told the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee that efforts to tackle elm disease are part of a programme aimed at containing its rapid spread and preventing further tree loss.

Elms make up around a third of the city’s trees, with more than 3,000 affected, and the council has launched the largest inoculation programme in the country. Replacing street elms is expected to cost around £30 million over five years.

Ash dieback, however, cannot currently be contained, with trees in woodland areas, particularly in Stanmer Park, being removed for safety. Replanting is expected to cost £18,000 per hectare over 10 years.

Green councillor Sue Shanks said communication about felling needed improvement, pointing out that residents often learn about tree removals via WhatsApp groups.

“Residents just need to know why this tree is coming down — either putting information through people’s doors or a notice on the tree itself,” she said.

Councillor Theresa Fowler described tree losses in her ward of Hollingdean and Fiveways as “devastating,” but stressed the importance of removing diseased trees after hearing about fatalities from falling branches elsewhere.

She also asked about replanting plans and tree varieties for areas including Hollingbury and Burstead woods.

Councillor Robins highlighted a cross-party woodland advisory group, which includes community organisations, to guide replanting.

“Some are saying it looks devastating when all the trees were lost, with big holes, but now we’re seeing the sun creep in and we’re getting bluebells and primroses coming into the little copses,” he said.

A tree planting plan is set to begin this winter across parks and streets, including Stanmer Park, with £164,000 budgeted for ash dieback and the same for elm disease, though an overspend of £100,000 is expected. £40,000 has been set aside to inoculate around 1,500 elm trees.

Councillor Ollie Sykes recalled a 2015 incident at St Christopher’s School in Hove, where an infected log pile contributed to the loss of 23 elm trees, and asked whether any sanctions could be applied.

Councillors were told that sanctions against private residents are unlikely, but signage on main routes reminds the public that logs can carry disease.