‘Outraged’ council leader seeking legal advice over Toby Carvery tree felling

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Enfield Council’s leader has said he is “outraged” Toby Carvery gave approval for the felling of an ancient tree without consulting them first.

The oak – thought to be about 400 years old – had its branches cut off after the chain said specialists had advised the tree, on the border of a restaurant car park, was a “potential health and safety risk”.

Council boss Ergin Erbil said Enfield’s own team of experts had checked the tree in December and found it was “healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users”.

“I am outraged that the leaseholder has cut down this beautiful ancient oak tree without seeking any permissions or advice from Enfield Council,” he said in a statement.

“We have evidence that this tree was alive and starting to grow new spring leaves when this action was taken.

“As the land owner, we believe this action has broken the terms of the lease, which requires Toby Carvery to maintain and protect the existing landscape.

“The tree was the oldest one on site, and cutting it down seems to be a clear breach of this condition.”

He added that the council was “seeking advice” and would take “appropriate legal action”.

The owner of Toby Carvery, Mitchells & Butlers, called the work “an important action to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public”.

“We took necessary measures to ensure any legal requirements were met,” it said.

Many locals are angry at the decision to cut back the tree, but police have found no evidence of criminality and are treating it as a civil matter.

The tree – now reduced to a large stump – was found surrounded by severed branches in Whitewebbs Park on 3 April.

It has a girth of 6.1m and was thought to be in the top 100 of London’s 600,000 oak trees in terms of size.

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Ed Pyne, Woodland Trust senior conservation adviser for trees, called it the “most shocking fell I think I’ve ever seen in more than a decade working with ancient trees”.

The council said it’s getting advice and “will take appropriate legal action” as it believes the company broke a lease requiring it to maintain and protect the landscape.

Mr Erbil said the oak was home to “countless wildlife, fungi, and pollinators” but promised to do everything to help it regrow.