NEWSROOM

The wind warning is in place from midnight to 9pm on Sunday 22 December and follows on from Storm Darragh two weeks ago which hit the borough hard, leading to 500 reports of fallen trees.

The extensive damage across Telford and Wrekin extends to public highways, footpaths and parks, as well as private properties.

And with Council teams still out every day working to clear away damage and debris including fallen trees, they are advising people to follow MET Office warnings and advice and thanking residents for reporting incidents.

Councillor Carolyn Healy (Lab), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability, said:

“The scale of the damage and fallen trees we have seen in the last two weeks as a result of Storm Darragh is as bad as we have ever known.

“With more strong winds forecast, trees weakened in the previous storm could be affected leading to further damage and disruption.

“We understand residents may be frustrated with the wait to clear the damage caused but we truly appreciate continued patience given the scale of what we are dealing with.

“Thank you to our tree officers and contractors for continuing to work so hard in these exceptional circumstances.”

Speaking of the damage caused by Storm Darragh, Michael Price, arboriculture manager at idverde said:

“This is one of the worst storms I have been involved in. The process of clearing these trees is ongoing and remains complex, with rigorous safety assessments required at each reported site.

“Our teams of skilled arborists are working tirelessly to get the borough free from storm damage as quickly and as safely as possible.

“I understand that frustrations may run high during this time but we must risk assess every situation we face day to day to get operations done safely so please bear with us.”

The process of removing a fallen or damaged tree can be complex and teams are doing everything they can to clear the debris safely and efficiently. Some of the largest trees that have fallen weigh between four and five tonnes and span 40 to 50 metres in height. The most dangerous situations are being prioritised and crews are making steady progress with four crews working across the borough to ensure all areas are attended to. With the ongoing work, and potential for further damage this Sunday, the Council will continue work over the coming weeks to complete the work.

Members of the public are thanked for their role in helping to report fallen trees, which has been invaluable in ensuring a quicker response. For those who have already reported a fallen tree, the Council urges patience as they process each case in order of severity.

Residents can report any new non-emergency tree-related issues on the Council’s website at https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20425/trees_hedges_and_woodland/3472/trees_blocking_a_path_or_road
If they're unable to report it online, they can call 01952 384384 for non-emergency tree issues, or call the out-of-hours number on 03451 559955 for emergencies.