Men fined for chopping down protected trees

Image source, WLDC

Image caption, Six trees covered by tree preservaton orders were chopped down in Sudbrooke

Two men have been fined for illegally chopping down protected trees.

A total of six trees were felled at a property in Main Drive in Sudbrooke, Lincolnshire, in June last year.

On Monday, Bruce Haughton, 34, and Glen Barrett, 64, of Barrett Treecare, pleaded guilty at Boston Magistrates' Court to breaching tree preservation orders (TPOs).

After the hearing, West Lindsey District Council said it takes "wilful damage to our protected environment extremely seriously".

Haughton, of Scothern Lane, Sudbrooke, was fined 拢3,844 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 拢1,538 and costs of 拢994.70.

Barrett, of Lincoln Road, Faldingworth, was fined 拢1,600. He was also told to pay a victim surcharge of 拢640 and costs of 拢994.70.

The trees formed part of a protected woodland area, said West Lindsey District Council.

The council said it would seek to replace the trees.

Councillor Matt Boles said he was pleased with the sentence.

He added: 鈥淭ree Preservation Orders are there for a reason and this outcome should serve as a warning to any landowner or businesses wishing to fell trees, to think twice, and check with the council before doing so.鈥

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