£15,000 bill for felling protected trees

COMPANIES AND THEIR DIRECTORS FINED AFTER 39 TREES CUT DOWN AT FORMER CARAVAN SITE

TWO companies and their directors have been fined after felling 39 trees protected by Kirklees Council at a former caravan site.

Kirklees Magistrate’s Court in Huddersfield ordered a total of £15,796 to be paid after all parties changed their pleas to guilty shortly before the trial on March 29. All had originally pleaded not guilty in March 2020.

The trees in the former Earth’s Wood

Caravan Park in Clayton West, along with an area of saplings, were cut down in May 2019. The tree felling went against a Kirklees Council Tree Preservation Order, put in place to preserve the local environment.

Kirklees Council has welcomed the conviction.

David Shepherd, strategic director for Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “It is important to understand the value of the woodland and the impact removing tress can have on our environment.

“The felling of these trees and saplings stripped away the woodland edge which adversely affected the woodland structure, wildlife habitats and public space that the Tree Preservation Order was in place to protect.

“The result in court was a welcome one. We will work to ensure the landowner now fulfils their legal duty by replanting all 39 trees.”

The land is owned by Earthswood Country Park Limited. The company was fined £5,625, while directors Anthony and Donna Barney were ordered to pay £4,044 and £1,267 respectively. The contractor that felled the trees, Premier Tree Care and Conservation, was told to pay £4,125. Its director, David Stephens, was fined £708.

Green party leader in Kirklees, Clr Andrew Cooper, welcomed the action by Kirklees Council. He said: “I’m pleased Kirklees Council is carrying out enforcement action against the felling of protected trees. This is very welcome and should be advertised widely as a warning to others and to reassure the public that legal action will be taken against those who wilfully chop down trees with preservation orders.”