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Lower Hanger Wood is a council-owned
countryside site in Haslemere. The council is duty-bound to ensure
that trees under its’ responsibility do not present an undue
risk to people and property. This duty is discharged through the
carrying out of regular formal inspections of those council-owned
trees which have potential to cause harm or damage in the event of
failure.

The works included within this contract were identified during
formal inspections as being necessary to reduce the risk presented
by trees at Lower Hanger Wood. Their completion will ensure that
the council complies with its legal obligations in respect of tree
risk management.

The value of this contract will be fixed.

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. This work
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
being caused to people or property from foreseeable failure of
council-owned trees on Lower Hanger Wood. If tree failure were to
occur due to features which would have been apparent at inspection,
the council would be exposed to the risk of litigation for any harm
or damage caused.