Investigation aims to determine if tree felling in Skares was legal
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into potential issues with tree felling at a wooded area in Skares.
A resident contacted the Cumnock Chronicle concerned that trees in a section of the woods adjacent to the old Skares park had been cut down.
According to the resident, the land where the old Skares park once stood was recently purchased, with the buyer then proceeding to cut down the trees next to the purchased land.
Permission to cut down the trees was given on the grounds to fell and restock the area with other trees.
However, the resident’s concerns centred around the fact that the person who bought the old park land did not own the wooded area, and therefore had no authority to be cutting down the trees.
The wooded area is believed to be managed by Forestry and Land
Scotland.
The resident said: “I contacted Scottish Forestry who said they did indeed grant felling permission.
“After that, we contacted Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) who indeed own the land and were unaware of any applications, and sent an inspector and stopped the
felling immediately.
“FLS phoned my partner and he said they owned the wood and they had no intention of cutting down the woods as they had a 30year plan.
“He said that he would write to the villagers individually and inform them of the future and plans for the woods.”
Scottish Forestry said it did grant permission to cut down the trees, but did so under the impression that the applicant owned the land.
It has been confirmed that an investigation is now underway to determine the full circumstances of what happened.
A Scottish Forestry spokesperson said: “We always take any claim of an unauthorised felling very seriously and will investigate to determine an appropriate form of action.
“In this case a felling permission was granted to an individual to fell and restock the site and who we understood to be the owner. However, we were notified on Friday, April 12 that the ownership of land is now in question.
“We are now trying to ascertain the legal ownership of this piece of land where the trees were removed and after this has been resolved, we will decide on the next course of action.
“As this is a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on further details surrounding this case.”
A spokesperson for Forestry and Land Scotland added: “We were made aware of a potential issue on Thursday, April 11.
“We are now working with Scottish Forestry to ascertain the facts of the matter and determine whether or not trees were felled on land still managed by us.”