Ipswich woman's wait for council to clear fallen tree

Julie Whatling was left with a bill for £500 after her car was damaged by a fallen tree that landed in the parking area of her apartment building in Graham Avenue.

The tree itself was rooted on land Ipswich Borough Council maintains in Valley Road.

Mrs Whatling, 77, tried to contact the council the same day (January 22), first by phone and then by email.

After receiving no response, her son travelled from Norwich to help her retrieve her car and to assess the damage.

The tree fell from neighbouring land in Valley Road on January 22. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Mrs Whatling was left with a bill for £500 when the tree branch fell through her car windscreen two weeks ago. Image: Julie Whatling (Image: Julie Whatling)

The large tree has made the garages in the car park inaccessible, and is blocking several car parking spaces. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Mrs Whatling is worried about the danger the tree poses, as it is dropping lower and lower as time passes. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)

A surveyor did come out to inspect the damage later that week, and suggested that a council worker would soon be available to remove the tree, which is now blocking the use of the car park and the garages there.

As of Monday, which marks two weeks on from the incident, nothing has been done.

“It’s annoying to think that you’re being ignored,” said Mrs Whatling.

“My son came from Norwich to release the car. If he hadn’t done that, the car would still be there.”

The tree has gradually been dropping lower and lower over the past fortnight, and Mrs Whatling said she is concerned about the danger this poses.

A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said: “Ipswich Borough Council is aware of the damage caused during the recent storm, and that branches are blocking access to one garage.

"However, the parks team will be on site first thing tomorrow [Tuesday] to remove the branches.”