Landowner and Contractor Fined for Illegally Felling Protected Trees

A landowner and contractor have been ordered by a judge to pay costs in excess of £255,000 for illegally felling more than 270 protected trees.

The charges included fines, confiscation monies and the Council's costs.

The charges related to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, with the trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order and sitting within the Clay Hill Conservation Area.

The Council has served a Tree Replacement Notice for 284 trees under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012.

This case highlights the caution of complying with designations and planning restrictions. See Enfield Council website for more detail.