A council has been accused of using "underhand tactics" after neighbours were woken before dawn by security guards and tree surgeons acting to “take possession of” a tree.
The plane tree, in Oakfield Road, Stroud Green, is at the centre of a legal battle, with insurance company Allianz claiming it is causing subsidence to a nearby house while the council says it risks an insurance claim of more than £400,000 if it is not felled.
Haringey Council took environmental group Haringey Tree Protectors (HTP) to court in December to gain possession of the tree, with the hearing at Clerkenwell and Shoreditch County Court adjourned until tomorrow (Wednesday March 15).
The judge refused the council an injunction with powers to arrest protesters.
But residents in Oakfield Road were "shocked and stunned" to be woken at 4.30am on Sunday (March 12) after the council ordered "possession" of the tree.
They say they were given no warning as more than a dozen security guards surrounded the plane tree while tree surgeons drilled scaffolding in place.
A notice from Simon Farrow, head of parks and leisure at Haringey Council, dated the morning of the action, suggested protesters had prepared to occupy the tree.
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It reads: "The council has become aware that people have begun to install climbing ropes and other items in the tree.
"Therefore in line with the possession order granted to the council in December 2022, it has had to take physical possession of the tree and the surrounding ground."
But Equador Zaha, who lives nearby, said any items had been there since before December’s court hearing.
He said: "We left hammocks and signage in the tree untouched yet Haringey Council claims we recently started putting it up there which justified this approach.
"They are using underhand tactics."
He said the items, worth around £150, had been taken by security guards and not returned.
Holly Aylett, who lives two doors from the tree, described the notice as “absolute nonsense” and said the council caused a nuisance at 4.45am without notice.
She said: "We've been respecting the court’s ruling and respecting what was said not to touch the tree and respecting what we thought was the council saying they wouldn't do anything to the tree. They are acting against the spirit of what they said using false information."
One neighbour claimed a portable toilet with a diesel generator was now “belching out fumes and noise" nearby.
Residents have filed complaints to the council and to the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which issues licences.
Former Highgate Liberal Democrat councillor Clive Carter said: "I'm astonished at the scale of this over-the-top, military-style operation."
He said the guards, who vary in number between four overnight and up to 20 since Sunday, "don't have ID, decline to identify themselves, wear bodycams and are largely cloaked".
He added: "The council has made a huge meal of this and the cost to Haringey taxpayers will run into many thousands of pounds."
HTP co-chair Giovanna Spinella said: "We're really shocked at how far the council and insurers will go against the citizens and fell a perfectly healthy tree.
"This shows how Haringey is coming down strong on tree campaigners. It's shocked everyone. However you feel about trees, it's really in your face on how far they will go."
Haringey Council did not say why residents were woken without warning, comment on the accusation that it gave false information, or give the estimated costs of the operation.
A spokesperson said: “In the light of expert opinion, the council considers that felling the tree is the only option in the circumstances.”
They added: “The council has exercised the authority granted by the court order by taking physical possession of the tree to deter and prevent illegal occupation.
"We appreciate that some disturbance and inconvenience may have been caused by this action, but we hope residents will understand the necessity of this work, and to do so unimpeded.
"We will make every effort to keep further disruption to a minimum."
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