1st March 2012

WEYMOUTH: Landowner fined £7,515 for felling trees

A landowner has been fined £7,515 after cutting down 20 protected trees.

Albert King, who owns an area of land called Fleetwood in Fleet, Weymouth, chopped down the trees in October 2009.

He was ordered to pay a £2,500 fine, £5,000 costs to West Dorset District Council and a £15 victim surcharge.

A Tree Preservation Order dating back to 1991 stated that work could not be done to the trees in Fleetwood without permission from the district council.

In October 2009 a member of the public informed the council that a number of trees had been felled.

The district council’s Enforcement and Arboricultural Officers found that in the region of 20 trees had been cut down.

In handing down the sentence Judge Jarvis said Mr King knew the preservation order was in place protecting all the trees in the woodland, which is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

He also said Mr King acknowledged that he caused the destruction of healthy trees and that it was clear the trees were removed to aid the erection of a building.

In mitigation Mr King’s solicitor, Tim Shorter, said his client did not have a luxury lifestyle and he was of very modest means. He is also a carer for his 32 year old son.

Mr Shorter added Mr King did not achieve a financial benefit from cutting down the trees.

He said the trees felled were relatively young and that most of the big mature trees are still on site.

Councillor Robert Gould, leader of West Dorset District Council, said: “Tree Preservation Orders play an important role in protecting West Dorset’s renowned natural scenery and the wildlife that may inhabit them.”

WEYMOUTH: Landowner fined £7,515 for felling trees

Comments

Add new comment