The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Tree felling is within limits – but only just
Tree felling on the future site of Fife’s education supercampus is within legal limits – but only just, Scotland’s forestry watchdog has concluded.
As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service earlier this week, contractors working on behalf of property developer Shepherd Offshore stoked outrage when they cut down trees on the Axis Point site to the east of Dunfermline without a permit.
The site, close to both the Amazon warehouse and Fife Leisure Park, forms part of the area where new homes, a filling station and the new Dunfermline Learning Campus could be built, subject to planning approval.
The particular patch of land is the subject of a planning application for an access road, which has received nearly 200 objections from members of the public.
On March 1 regulator Forestry Scotland stepped in, telling workers to cease felling while it carried out an investigation.
It has concluded that Shepherd has not broken the law – but if it fells any more trees it could become liable for prosecution.
Cutting down trees without a tree felling licence is an offence under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act, punishable by fines of up to £5,000 per tree felled.
However, the watchdog says Shepherd has not broken the law because the total amount of wood lost does not exceed a statutory limit of five cubic metres of timber that can be cut down without a permit every three months.
A Scottish Forestry spokesman said: “As part of our investigation, our staff visited the site and carried out a visual assessment of the felled timber.
“We have estimated that the amount of timber felled is under the limit of five cubic metres, therefore we don’t believe any offence has taken place.
“In this case, no further action from Scottish Forestry is needed.
“However, we have advised the landowner and contractor that any further felling on the site would likely give rise to an offence being committed.”
The proposed access road runs between the Axis site and Calaismuir Wood to the south. Conservation campaigners claim the works are disturbing local wildlife and could cause irreparable ecological harm to the area.
Fife Council says responsibility for the site falls to its owner and insists its ability to step in is limited by law.
Shepherd is in the process of selling the land to the local authority, Fife College and housebuilders Bellway Homes and Persimmon Homes.
The firm failed to respond to multiple requests for comment.
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Further felling would likely give rise to an offence
The restoration of the historic Old Kirk tower in Kirkcaldy has moved a step closer with the final piece of development funding now in place.
Members of Fife Council’s Kirkcaldy area committee have approved £15,000 from the town’s common good fund.
It is hoped the award will trigger the start of a £406,000 restoration and enhancement of the Kirk, designed to play a major role in the promotion of tourism in the town.
The B-listed church is the oldest building in continuous use in Kirkcaldy, having served for nearly 1,000 years as a centre for worship.
The earliest written record of the Old Kirk dates back to 1244 when it was consecrated by Bishop de Brenham.
Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith was christened there.
Rosemary Potter, chairwoman of the Old Kirk Trustees, said she was delighted the application had been approved.
She added: “The pandemic has slowed down some of the fundraising but we have, amongst other confirmed awards, £102,200 approved from Heritage Lottery Fund and a matching amount secured from Historic Environment Scotland.
“We expect to know about the rest of the applications by the end of March.
“The 15th Century bell tower is an iconic part of Kirkcaldy town centre but, after 500 years overlooking the High Street, it is in need of some care and attention to make it fit to survive the next 500.”
The trust has made strides in improving the Old Kirk since it took control in 2010, with a number of internal improvements already completed.
In addition to the applications for funding, Kirkcaldy SNP MP Neale Hanvey has also been campaigning on behalf of the Kirk to ensure the project will continue to be eligible for UK Government charitable tax-relief, which could save the project as much as £60,000.
There is still some uncertainty over whether the tax-relief scheme, in operation since 2001, will continue following the
completion of a UK Government spending review later this month.
Commenting on the latest funding, Kirkcaldy Labour councillor Ian Cameron said the landmark was at the heart of the council’s efforts to maximise the potential for tourism from the town’s historic architecture and buildings.
“This is a no-brainer. We are always talking about a sense of place and here we are with a 7th Century religious site and 800-yearold church.
“Adam
Smith was
christened there and there’s so much history wrapped up in the graveyard and the Kirk.
“It makes perfect sense for us to be investing in this very ambitious restoration project.”
Councillor Neil Crooks, committee convener, added: “It’s apt that 2023 will be the 300th anniversary of Adam Smith being baptised at the site that we are investing in it now.
“It’s great, but not surprising, that this application has got universal support from Kirkcaldy councillors.