Enfield Council is taking decisive legal action against the owners of a Toby Carvery restaurant in north London, following the controversial felling of a centuries-old oak tree that has ignited widespread public anger.
Council Initiates Forfeiture Proceedings
The local authority has confirmed it is pursuing eviction proceedings against Mitchells & Butlers, the company responsible for the Toby Carvery located at Whitewebbs Park in Enfield. This move comes after what the council describes as a reckless act that severely damaged a 500-year-old oak tree, sometimes known as the Guy Fawkes oak due to its historical connections.
Breach of Lease and Community Outrage
Tim Leaver, the deputy leader of Enfield Council, stated that the partial felling occurred last April without the council's knowledge or consent, constituting a clear breach of the lease governing the site. The tree, situated on the edge of the restaurant's car park, was an irreplaceable part of the area's natural heritage and one of London's largest and most significant oaks.
Leaver emphasised that the destruction shocked and angered the entire community, cutting the tree's expected lifespan and causing irreversible damage. The council has served a formal section 146 notice on Mitchells & Butlers, but the company has failed to engage meaningfully or offer compensation.
Demands for Accountability and Reparations
Enfield Council is demanding that Mitchells & Butlers issue a public apology and provide financial reparations for the environmental harm, as well as compensate the council for significant costs incurred. Leaver asserted that the people of Enfield deserve accountability for this loss, which has provoked fury from both residents and local officials.
The backlash intensified before Christmas, leading to the current legal steps. A spokesperson for Toby Carvery declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings, while the council remains steadfast in its pursuit of justice for what it views as a serious violation of trust and environmental stewardship.
