A resident and a contractor have both been ordered to 'pay up' for drastically pruning trees without Lichfield District Council's permission
Mr C Banks, a Little Aston resident who damaged a protected Oak tree in his garden without Lichfield District Council's consent, has been fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of over £2,500 by Tamworth Magistrates on February 5.
Many of the trees in the private estate in Little Aston are protected by Tree Preservation Orders. It is an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act to prune or remove any protected tree without the local authority's consent.
The tree, on Squirrel Walk, was part of woodland that had been protected for over 40 years and it was destroyed within hours. Recognising the importance of trees in the area, the Magistrate ordered the owners to plant a replacement Oak tree in the garden on top of paying a fine.
In a second case, also heard at Tamworth's Magistrates court on February 5, a tree contractor was prosecuted for drastically pruning an Oak tree on Lombard Street, Lichfield without getting authorisation from the Council.
Mr Raymond Higgins of 'Tree Care' was prosecuted under section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act. He was fined £500 plus £1,323.80 costs and a further £15 victim surcharge for the unauthorised works.
The court found that the Oak tree, which is within the Lichfield Conservation Area, was 'wilfully damaged' and will take a long time to recover. It also transpired that Mr Higgins was operating without the necessary certificates of competence for chainsaw work and without public liability insurance.
Tamworth Magistrates told Mr Higgins that he must take a heavy responsibility for the unauthorised work and, in the absence of the householder who asked him to carry out the works, ordered him to pay the fine plus half of the Council's costs.
Councillor Neil Roberts, Cabinet Member for Development Services, said: "We are charged with protecting the district's heritage, helping to keep it an attractive place to live and work as well as ensuring there are trees and woodlands for future generations to enjoy. So, we are delighted with the result of these cases. It gives a clear message to developers, tree owners and tree surgeons that
