Fareham Borough Council has welcomed today’s news from the BBC that insurance company Direct Line has reversed its decision to fell six mature trees in Fareham, opting instead to install a root barrier to address subsidence concerns at a nearby bungalow.

The Council has long raised concerns about the growing number of insurance-driven requests to remove healthy trees thought to be contributing to subsidence. In July 2024, Council Leader Simon Martin wrote to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, urging the Government to reconsider the legislation surrounding Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). His letter outlined how current laws can expose local authorities to significant compensation claims if they refuse permission to fell protected trees—even when alternative engineering solutions exist.

In September 2024, Councillor Martin also wrote to the Chief Executive of Direct Line, requesting clarity on what alternative solutions had been explored in the case of the trees located between Heath Lawns and Southmead Road.

Councillor Simon Martin said: We’re very pleased that the insurance company has now opted for a far more appropriate and environmentally responsible solution. We hope the Council’s pressure has played a part in achieving this outcome. Felling healthy trees should never be the first option. We’ve made our position clear to Government: the current legislation leaves councils in an impossible bind—forced to choose between protecting the natural environment and avoiding costly legal battles. Urgent reform is needed to ensure that tree removal is always a last resort.

Despite today’s update, the Council has yet to receive any direct communication from Direct Line regarding this change in approach.