DOUBTS are emerging about London’s tree culling when 2,000 got the chop.

A London Assembly report three years ago found that claims against subsidence to properties had led to street trees getting the axe.

Now Assembly members are wondering what has happened since the report—and whether the practice has stopped.

The Assembly’s Environment committee from today (Dec 2) looks at the issue again and plans a public meeting in the New Year for Londoners to decide if more trees should be saved.

Its environment chairman Darren Johnson said: “We want to find out what action has been taken since 2007 and whether moves to increase and protect street trees will have a lasting effect in the face of Government cuts.”

The Assembly’s environment committee is investigating how effective ‘planting and replacement’ programmes are, such as the Mayor’s scheme to plant 10,000 by 2012.

The 2007 report highlighted “an urgent need for action” from local authorities, landlords, developers and householders to increase the number of trees as part of the battle against climate change.

The committee holds a public meeting at City Hall on January 13, followed by a report in early spring.