Residents in south-west London have expressed devastation after a tree on their street was mistakenly removed by contractors.
Premier Tree Care & Conservation cut down a cherry tree on Priory Road in Kew, Richmond, instead of a tree on a street with the same name in Ealing. Neighbours attempted to intervene, but the “healthy, mature and very beautiful” tree was felled within minutes.
Alison Murphy, a local resident, said she tried to stop the contractors, who claimed the tree was diseased. She requested 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,” she said.
Premier Tree Care & Conservation expressed “deepest regret” for the incident, describing it as a “human error” and confirming that a replacement cherry tree has been sourced. A spokesperson added: “Since the incident, we have liaised closely with residents of Priory Road to apologise. We understand the strength of feeling from the residents and we are taking every action to ensure the matter is resolved swiftly and smoothly.”
Richmond Council said the felling had not been authorised by them and that discussions were ongoing with Ealing Council and the contractor to prevent similar errors. The council confirmed plans to remove the tree stump, repair the tree pit, and replace the tree during the current planting season. They also stated they would seek to recover costs from the contractor.
An Ealing Council spokesperson confirmed they were coordinating with Richmond Council on the replacement and that residents had been reassured that a similar cherry tree would be planted “straight away,” with instructions for planting expected within the coming days.
