Content

Bargate Wood in Godalming consists of
woodland, footpaths between houses, and steep slopes along the
roadside. The site is open to the public and has several access
points.
The Council is duty-bound to ensure that trees under their
responsibility do not present an undue risk to people and property.
This duty is discharged through the carrying out regular formal
inspections of those trees under Council ownership which have
potential to cause damage or harm in the event of failure.
The works covered under this contract were identified during formal
inspection of trees on site, as being necessary to reduce the risk
to a low (normal) level. Their completion will ensure that the
Council complies with its legal obligations in respect of tree risk
management.

Reasons for the decision

To enable the Council to fulfil its’
legal obligation to manage, and if necessary, reduce the risk to
people and property presented by Council-owned trees. These works
will protect the Council’s risk of litigation from
foreseeable tree failure.

Alternative options considered

To not carry out the tree safety works. If
this option were taken, there would be an increased risk of harm
the Council would be exposed to the risk of litigation if harm or
damage was caused by the foreseeable failure of Council-owned trees
in Bargate Wood