@davidoclubb @wales I've often suspected it's to do with the cost of highways having to pick up the leaves to keep the water off the surface. And because they planted shallow rooted trees on compacted soil, the roots lift the pavement. The benefits are never estimated or added to the accounts. Another example of the disaster of Activity Based Costing being applied to public services. Part of the Thatcherite revolution in local government, which no government has sought to abolish.

@davidoclubb @wales unfortunately we had to cut down our large tree recently - disease had rendered it unsafe.