By Gareth Davies

gareth.davies@essnmedia.co.uk

A RETIRED couple claim a huge roadside tree is damaging their home.

But Bill and Pamela Norman say that if they want to prove the tree is causing the cracks in their walls, they will have pay to have their garden dug up.

Croydon Council planted it outside their home in Highbarrow Road, Sanderstead, more than 15 years ago.

Since then it has grown as tall as the house and blocked sunlight getting into their bedroom.

But of greater concern, says Bill, 67, is the damage he believes its roots are causing to the house.

Mr Norman said: "To put it simply, we just don't know whether to be worried or not.

"There is a large crack under the bay windows on the front of the house. Every time we plaster over it, the crack reappears within a few months. We've asked the council to remove the tree but so far it has been like banging our heard against a brick wall.

"Their answer is for us to dig up own front garden and find out what the problem is, but there's no way we can afford to do that."

The issue was brought to the council's attention during Andrew Pelling's election campaign.

Alan Crawley, a campaigner for the former Croydon Central MP, has taken up the pensioners' cause. He said: "The council claims the tree is a maple, but we know it's a sycamore, one of the most invasive trees in Britain.

"These things aren't meant to be placed beside houses because their roots rip apart pavements with ease."

A spokesman for the council said the tree is a Norway maple, of similar appearance to a sycamore. He added: "With regards to any possible damage to the property, we can't find any record of having been contacted about this.

"The advice we always give is that if people do suspect that any structural issues they have may be associated with street trees then they should contact their insurers in the first instance.

"They will investigate and if they do find evidence that a tree is the 'root cause' then they will take this up with us direct."