Illustration by John Sadler www.johnsadlerillustration.com 

• I HAVE been increasingly alarmed by the amount of local street trees I see being severely pollarded, lopped and felled.

I am very worried about what seems to be an escalating level of new planning applications that involve building over Camden’s remaining private front and back garden spaces.

Unfortunately I am struggling to find out about and understand what Camden’s current environmental and planning policy actually is and how exactly it is being put into practice.

I am writing today because I saw three recent planning applications in relation to management of trees in the gardens of 178, 180 and 182 Camden Road, involving a new claim in relation to subsidence at 180 Camden Road.

Apparently “moisture abstraction by vegetation” in “clay soil susceptible to undergoing volumetric change” has been identified as having a “potential” link to cracks in the building.

Some trees have been directly linked to the damage and others have been identified with respect to their “potential future risk to building stability”.

It is well known that Camden’s homes are built on London clay, which swells when wet and shrinks when dry.

In 2019 the council declared a climate and ecological emergency, and most citizens are now well aware of the periodic flooding and drought conditions that will be increasingly likely here in London.

My question is this: if vegetation is inevitably linked to both helpful absorption of excess water and increased shrinkage of the clay subsoil of building foundations, how can this be addressed moving forward?

I would very much welcome a clear public declaration and explanation from our newly-elected Camden Council, about their up-to-date policy for balancing regard for nature and the environment in relation to planning applications, and plans for existing and future management of Camden’s private garden vegetation and street trees.

DR SUSANNA GRIFFIN, NW1