Information Team Croydon
Digital Services
Assistant Chief Executive Directorate
Bernard Wetherill House
7th Floor, Zone B
Croydon
CR0 1EA

Contact: Information Team
[email address]

NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email. If
you have a processing request, please ensure you quote that reference in
your emails to us.

Dear Kevin Lawrence

Freedom of information request - FOI/10517

Subject: Freedom of Information request - COULSDON ROAD a€“ Extent of
CARRIAGEWAY, VEGETATION Overhanging Roadway - Boundary of HIGHWAY

Your request is being considered and you will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days, subject to the application of
any exemptions. Where consideration is being given to exemptions the 20
working day timescale may be extended to a period considered reasonable
depending on the nature and circumstances of your request. In such cases
you will be notified and, where possible, a revised time-scale will be
indicated. In all cases we shall attempt to deal with your request at the
earliest opportunity.

If we are unable to provide you with the information requested we will
notify you of this together with the reason(s) why, and details of how you
may appeal.

Please note that the directorate team may contact you for further
information where we believe that the request is not significantly clear
for us to respond fully. 

Kind Regard

Information Management Team

Croydon Digital Services

Assistant Chief Executive Directorate

7th Floor, Zone B

Bernard Weatherill House

8 Mint Walk

Croydon CR0 1EA

Information Team Croydon
Digital Services
Assistant Chief Executive Directorate
Bernard Wetherill House
7th Floor, Zone B
Croydon
CR0 1EA

Contact: Information Team
[email address]

Dear Kevin Lawrence

Request FOI/10517

Environmental Information Regulations 2004

Your request has been considered under the provisions of the Environmental
Information Regulations 2004. Specifically, you have requested the
following information:

Complaints have been made over the vegetation overhanging the roadway and
obstructing sightlines on the northeast side of the B2030 Coulsdon Road
between Stoats Nest Road and Coulsdon Court Road.

Please confirm what investigations the council has conducted into
ownership of the land between the kerbline and the wall along this section
of road.
That to include the date and the outcome. 

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is only applicable to
information held by the public authority in recorded format, therefore the
Council is unable to provide you with a response under EIR in respect of
this question.  However, highways have advised that an investigation
revealed the offending foliage mainly originates from the rear gardens of
Cearn Way.  The council conducted land registry searches to determine
ownership of the land and letters were sent out to the relevant properties
on 23 May 2024.  Responses were received from some of the properties with
some indicating their willingness to comply. One property has a Tree
Preservation Order and this is being followed up. Should you have any
further queries regarding this issue please contact highways directly.

Where land is highway, it is the council responsibility to maintain this. 

Yes.

That means in particular ensuring that no vegetation on the highway but
off the roadway obstructs the road or obstructs sightlines. 

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is only applicable to
information held by the public authority in recorded format, therefore the
Council is unable to provide you with a response under EIR in respect of
this question.  However, highways have advised that yes, a significant
amount of the vegetation encroaching on the highway is from the rear of
the properties in Cearn Way. Should you have any further queries regarding
this issue please contact highways directly.

In this case some vegetation is actually extending over the kerbline and
obstructing the actual roadway. 

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is only applicable to
information held by the public authority in recorded format, therefore the
Council is unable to provide you with a response under EIR in respect of
this question.  However, highways have advised that they have asked our
Grounds Maintenance and Trees and Woodlands teams to trim back the
vegetation on highway land. Should you have any further queries regarding
this issue please contact highways directly.

Some of the vegetation causing obstruction to passing traffic and
obstructing sightlines is growing on the land between the kerbline and the
wall. 

As above.

Please confirm whether the council believes or has concluded that this
land is highway. 

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is only applicable to
information held by the public authority in recorded format, therefore the
Council is unable to provide you with a response under EIR in respect of
this question.  However, highways have advised that the land between the
carriageway and the boundary walls is highway. Should you have any further
queries regarding this issue please contact highways directly.

In the event that this is highway, the council is responsible for clearing
and maintaining this area. 

Yes, as above.

When will this work be completed – given that this is a long-standing road
safety issue, impacting on safe use of a key local main road? 

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) is only applicable to
information held by the public authority in recorded format, therefore the
Council is unable to provide you with a response under EIR in respect of
this question.  However, highways have advised that the work on the
highway land is expected to be completed within a few weeks. Should you
have any further queries regarding this issue please contact highways
directly.

The Council publishes Access to Information requests and responses on its
online Disclosure Log. (Any request included within this log will be
anonymised appropriately)

To view the Council’s Disclosure Log, please visit our website available
here:

[1]The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act | Croydon Council
(disclosure-log.co.uk)

If you are dissatisfied with the way the council has handled your request
under the Environmental Information Regulations you may ask for an
internal review.  This should be submitted to us within 40 working days of
this response.  You can do this by outlining the details of your complaint
by:

Email:        [2][email address]

Writing:     Information Team

London Borough of Croydon
Bernard Weatherill House
3^rd Floor - Zone E
8 Mint Walk
Croydon CR0 1EA

 Any requests received after the 40 working day time limit will be
considered only at the discretion of the council.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Commissioner for a decision. The
Commissioner can be contacted at:

Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely 
 

Croydon Council

References

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1. https://croydon.disclosure-log.co.uk/
2. mailto:[email%20address]