Tree felled on wrong street due to 'human error'

The tree on Priory Road in Kew, Richmond, was cut down in error, instead of a tree on Priory Road in Ealing

Residents on a south-west London street are "devastated" after a tree was "removed in error".

Premier Tree Care & Conservation cut down the tree on Priory Road in Kew, Richmond, instead of one on a street with the same name in Ealing by mistake.

Neighbours said they tried to challenge the contractors before they felled the "healthy, mature and very beautiful" cherry tree, but it happened in "minutes".

Premier Tree Care & Conservation shared its "deepest regret" over what they described as a case of "human error" and said it would replace the tree "right away with a similar cherry tree".

Alison Murphy, who lives nearby, said she tried to stop the felling of the tree - which she said the contractors claimed was diseased.

She asked to see some evidence from the council and was shown a letter from Ealing Council on the workers' mobile phone.

"I wish I'd realised that they were in the wrong borough, in the wrong road, cutting down the wrong tree," Ms Murphy said.

"Another neighbour came out and sort of reiterated that we weren't in Ealing and he was in the wrong place.

"It happened really fast. It was a matter of minutes."

Alison Murphy said she tried to stop the felling of the tree

A spokesperson for Premier Tree Care & Conservation confirmed the tree was "sadly removed in error".

"Since the incident, we have liaised closely with residents of Priory Road to apologise," they said.

"We understand the strength of feeling from the residents and we are taking every action to ensure the matter is resolved swiftly and smoothly."

The company said it had sourced a replacement.

A Richmond Council spokesperson said the felling was not authorised by them and it would be "discussing this situation with Ealing Council and the contractor to prevent this from happening again".

"The tree planting season has just started, so we will be removing the tree stump left behind, repairing the tree pit, and then replacing the tree in the current planting season," they said.

"We will be seeking to recover the costs from the contractor."

An Ealing Council spokesperson said they were liaising with Richmond Council on "the best course of action for the replacement tree".

"Since the incident, the residents of Priory Road have been apologised to and reassured that a similar cherry tree will be replaced straight away, in fact, a replacement tree has been sourced and instruction from Richmond Council as to when it can be planted is being awaited, which we hope will be in the next few days," they added.