Jim Shannon

Jim Shannon

Democratic Unionist Party — Strangford

Speaking in the House of Commons on 15 October 2025

Debate

Tree Maintenance: Guidance to Local Authorities

Contribution

I commend the right hon. Lady. One thing that has always come to my attention—I am dealing with such a case in my office at the moment—is about finding out who actually owns a tree and who is responsible for it. We have found great difficulty, through the local council, in finding out who that would be. As we have had more storms than ever —and probably more to come this winter, unfortunately—that means a responsibility on those who own adjoining land, from which a tree may fall into another’s property. Does the hon. Lady agree that we perhaps need a system whereby, if there is uncertainty about who owns a tree, someone can step in? That perhaps underlines what the right hon. Lady is saying. It is slightly different from the purpose of this debate, but it does highlight an issue that is probably applicable to me—and, I suspect, to everyone else as well.

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