URL: https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=3600

Decision Maker:

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: Mrs Fiona Hall attended the meeting with her stepson Sam and explained that her late husband, Chris, had been killed on 28 August 2020 when a decayed tree fell, an incident for which Cheshire East Council was later prosecuted and fined £500,000 for systemic failings. Mrs Hall stated that since the incident she had campaigned for “Chris’s Law,” formally launched in September last year, aiming to make it a legal requirement for councils to maintain trees in public spaces. Mrs Hall reported significant public and media support, with 38,000 signatures gathered, and noted that despite the usual 100,000 signature threshold, a parliamentary debate had already taken place in November, followed by a meeting with the Minister for Nature on 8 December. Mrs Hall emphasised that she would continue campaigning until the law was passed and highlighted the wider issue of unreported tree?related deaths. Mrs Hall noted her January meeting with senior council officers, who expressed support for the proposal, and encouraged Cheshire East Council to act as a leading example in driving change. Finally, Mrs Hall referred to the recent Defra letter issued by Mary Creagh MP to all UK Local Authorities and highlighted that this had been one of the key actions agreed during her meeting with the Defra Minister.  

Date of Decision: March 26, 2026