Cheshire East Council Fined £500,000 for Tree Fatality

Cheshire East Council has been fined £500,000 following the death of 48-year-old Chris Hall, who was struck by a falling tree limb while walking his dog in The Carrs park on August 28, 2020. The incident, which resulted in fatal injuries, occurred less than a year after another limb from the same tree had fallen, yet no investigation was conducted to assess the risks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the council and its grounds maintenance contractor, Ansa Environmental Services, failed to implement adequate tree inspections or risk management strategies, despite prior concerns raised by staff. Hall's wife, Fiona, described his death as