§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he has taken to prevent trees in urban areas being destroyed by cabling operations. [158665]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe utilities, including cable companies, are already signed up to guidelines—NJUG10 ("Guidelines for the planning, installation and maintenance of utility services in proximity to trees")—designed to ensure that they carry out their works without damaging trees unnecessarily.
The key messages of NJUG10 have also been reinforced in a code of practice, included in the Department's "Tree Preservation Orders—A guide to the law and good practice". This further encourages good street works practice and effective consultation between utility operators and local authority tree officers.