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Mystery Solved: Ground Control Cut Ancient Oak
3 Apr
Summary
- Contractor Ground Control identified for felling ancient oak.
- Toby Carvery's owner claimed safety, but experts disagree.
- Legal action initiated against Toby Carvery's owner.
A year after a 500-year-old oak in Whitewebbs Park was partially felled, the contractor responsible has been identified as Ground Control. Mitchells & Butler Retail (MBR), the owner of Toby Carvery, stated that its contractor advised the work was necessary due to the tree being diseased and a safety hazard. Numerous experts, including an investigator from the Forestry Commission, found the tree to be healthy and not requiring felling.
Documentary evidence reviewed indicates Ground Control performed the work for MBR, citing protection of a public area due to a split branch. However, specialists dispute this, calling the damage old and not a hazard. Sources suggest Ground Control's grounds maintenance team, not its specialist arborists, handled the assessment and felling, raising further questions about MBR's justification. Enfield council has begun legal proceedings to evict MBR for damaging the tree without permission.
MBR has refused to apologize or offer compensation. The situation is complicated by MBR's financial links to Tottenham Hotspur football club, though the club denies any connection between the tree felling and its plans for a women's football training academy on adjacent land. Legal action by the Guardians of Whitewebbs group against Enfield's decision to grant planning permission for the training complex is scheduled for June.
