Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunshine

[righty]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

No I'm sorry you clearly don't understand

It's ONLY an accident if it's unforeseeable & what I'm saying that that in my extensive experience trees of this size falling are very seldom unforeseeable & if not it's not an accident but an incident & if proved an incident then there has been neglect on someones part

Doubt me then read OED

[Froggy]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

INCIDENT


• noun 1 an event or occurrence. 2 a violent event, such as an attack. 3 the occurrence of dangerous or exciting events: the plane landed without incident.
• adjective 1 (incident to) resulting from. 2 (of light or other radiation) falling on or striking something. 3 Physics relating to incidence. — ORIGIN from Latin incidere ‘fall upon, happen to’.


ACCIDENT


• noun 1 an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally. 2 an incident that happens by chance or without apparent cause. 3 chance.
— PHRASES accidents will happen in the best regulated families proverb however careful you try to be, it is inevitable that some unfortunate or unforeseen events will occur. — ORIGIN from Latin accidere ‘to fall or happen’.


Source: Oxford English Dictionary Online.

[Celestine]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

A few years ago I was caught up in the traffic chaos following an awful accident on Trinity Road in Wandsworth. The weather was stormy and a couple in a BMW were killed when a large branch fell on their vehicle; which then caught fire, burning them to death trapped in their vehicle.
It was an horrific freak accident but naturally questions were asked about the trees maintenance and condition.

I am a trained horticulturist and I work for my local council, previously in a position doing tree inspections. I still work in the same department that is responsible for all our city, park and schools trees.

People love trees and the council are attacked every time we have to fell trees due to disease or overgrowth. We are also routinely sued for the damage that street trees do to homes through subsidence and cracking.

It would be far cheaper and safer for us to fell all trees, but we would not dream of doing such a thing because we know how much people value and need the presence of trees in a city environment.

We do perform inspections of our trees every 6 months, but we are unable to perform anything more than a visual check. We are reminded daily of our responsibilities as we become familiar with the impact of corporate manslaughter legislation.

I looked at the photos of the tree that fell on this girl, it did show some signs of disease inside the trunk, but it would probably have been impossible to spot as the diseased wood is hidden and only sophisticated testing could have revealed such degradation. Also the tree branch didn't 'fall', this tree appeared to split in half low down; which is quite unusual in itself.

As for the council removing the tree branch, I can assure you that many photos would have been taken of the site of the accident. The tree branch would have been removed as standard practice, as it is thought the sight of the remnants of such an accident is deemed distressing to relatives and friends. There is no way the police would have allowed the branch to be cleared without full evidence having been gathered. As for disease, all the evidence you need is in the damaged tree that still remains. Records of inspection and maintenance would form the next tier of required evidence for any compensation claim.

The bottom line is simple, trees are beautiful, life giving and beneficial to our health. But local councils are under incredible pressure to deliver this alongside 100% safety. This is impossible and unreasonable. Last summers wet weather has caused increased leaf production and density this summer. Such factors are almost impossible to plan for but undeniably contribute towards accidents.

If we want trees, we have to accept that despite concerted efforts by local councils, we cannot have them with a 100% safety guarantee.

[Amy]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

Thank God for that. Thank you Cel.

[righty]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

Amy what has Cel stated that's any different from what I told you apart from & whilst I understand perfectly their removing the branch that killed the little girl it's my understanding they removed the whole tree

Cel has confirmed the council do regular inspections. As for being able to detect hidden damage I don't think any council would be considered negligent for not doing so. No it's my experience that often these large trees DO give advance warning of there instability & that's where I would be concerned to establish the maintenance schedule

Cel also assures us that photos will have been taken before removal. I do hope so because in my experience where council property has been the cause that property has been removed before a proper investigation could be conducted & that includes falling vegetation

[Amy]

Re: Girl, 13, killed by falling tree as she played with friends in Bank Holiday sunsh

The bottom line is simple, trees are beautiful, life giving and beneficial to our health. But local councils are under incredible pressure to deliver this alongside 100% safety. This is impossible and unreasonable. Last summers wet weather has caused increased leaf production and density this summer. Such factors are almost impossible to plan for but undeniably contribute towards accidents.

If we want trees, we have to accept that despite concerted efforts by local councils, we cannot have them with a 100% safety guarantee.

Have you actually read what Cel wrote?