Tree felled on wrong street due to 'human error'

"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.""

"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 contractor from Premier Tree Care & Conservation cut down a mature cherry tree on Priory Road in Kew by mistake, confusing the location with a different Priory Road in Ealing. Neighbours intervened and asked to see evidence, and workers showed a letter from Ealing Council on a mobile phone. Residents described the tree as healthy, mature and beautiful and said the removal happened within minutes. The contractor expressed deepest regret, called it human error, apologised to residents and said a similar cherry tree has been sourced for replacement. Richmond Council said the felling was unauthorised and will discuss the incident with Ealing Council and the contractor, remove the stump and repair the site.

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