I’ve been fined £80,000 by the council for chopping down a protected tree… but they cut down four exactly the same
A MAN was fined £80,000 by a council for chopping down a protected tree - but officials have been slammed as THEY also axed four others.
Robert Page was hit with a whopping fine after he was found to have had a 65ft Monterey Pine tree in his garden chopped down.
The mature specimen was subject to a tree preservation order - and was described by the council as a "historic" tree that was an "important feature of the local landscape".
Yet the same local authority granted permission for the 60-year-old Monterey Cypress trees to be removed in Canford Cliffs area of Poole, Dorset.
The council has been accused of hypocrisy for allowing four protected trees to be axed - while fining Mr Page for the same act.
The historic trees were ordered to be removed by the council to make way for the development of two new homes.
And despite appeals and objections from neighbours, this week workmen cut the four trees down using chainsaws.
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This comes a week after a £1million house that was less than 25 years old was razed to the ground as part of the same development.
Peter Norrie, who lives opposite the site, said he was livid that the trees had been killed before the outcome of an appeal he had lodged with the Local Government Ombudsman had been resolved.
He said: "I had a complaint registered with the ombudsman that was due to be heard.
"If a private individual was to completely ignore due process and acted before judgement had been reached, I am sure the council would take legal action against them.
"With a complete disregard for due process, they have allowed the four protected trees to be felled.
"The council is responsible for protecting TPOs trees. They are supposed to be setting the example, not be the example.
";They are very quick to punish individuals as can be identified by recent legal actions but at the same time believe these same rules do not apply.
"It certainly feels like one rule for individuals who break TPO laws and quite a different set of rules for the council.
"The whole thing is a disgrace. It is now a ghastly sight."
Neighbour Chris Cotterell added: "The trees were at least 60 years old and appeared to be in perfectly good health but stood in the way of the footprint of the development.
"They are so strict about other homeowners pruning trees, yet it seems to be a different law for the local authority."
In an email to Mr Norrie, Nicholas Perrins, head of planning at Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, said the planning consent trumped any complaint to the watchdog.
He said: "The planning permission allows for the removal of some TPO trees and it is our understanding of the legislation that this is sufficient for the developer to proceed.
"I am aware that you have referred the matter to the LGO and the compliant will now follow its due process, but it is not a process that can stop the implementation of what we consider to be lawful and extant planning permission."
A council spokesperson added: "We appreciate our resident's concerns and I can offer an assurance that all appropriate planning procedures were followed to permit the removal of the four Monterey cypress trees.
LEAF IT OUT
"The planning application for this site was approved in June 2021. This process took into consideration a detailed ecological and environmental assessment, which permits the removal of the trees.
"There is therefore no legal requirement for the developer to submit a separate Tree Preservation Order application.
"Within the approved application for this development planting will be carried out throughout the site to provide future tree cover and amenity to the local area."
A spokesman for Charlew Developments, who are carrying out the work, said: "We have got full permission for everything we are doing there. We are not in breach of any regulations.
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"The proposal introduces a high quality contemporary style design but with a traditional form, which creates two striking detached dwellings."
They added the two properties will make a positive contribution to the build and natural environment.
