Specialist contractors were called in
The tree has been chopped and removed
A tree posing an ‘imminent danger’ has been urgently removed from Clifton High School after it snapped in a high-use area.
The incident prompted an immediate response from Branch Walkers Tree Services Ltd.
In a letter addressed to Mark Hemmings of Bristol City Council, the firm confirmed the purple cherry plum had snapped and was considered hazardous.
“On arrival we found that a tree had indeed snapped out and was an imminent danger so it was removed,” wrote Richard Harrison of Branch Walkers.
The tree, situated on the school’s College Road site in Clifton, had failed in an area regularly used by students and staff, raising concerns for public safety.
The removal was carried out swiftly, with photographic evidence reportedly submitted to council officers for the record.
The tree has been chopped and removed
While the document did not specify the exact cause of the failure, the use of the phrase “imminent danger” suggests the structural integrity of the tree had been significantly compromised, necessitating urgent action.
There is no indication from the correspondence that the removal faced any objections.
The school has expressed a positive outlook regarding replanting efforts. According to the letter, “The school are more than willing to replant in the next planting season.”
This removal was conducted under a five-day notice, a common procedure allowing for the removal of potentially dangerous trees without the need for a full planning application, provided certain criteria are met.