WARRINGTON council’s planning enforcement team has successfully prosecuted Go Outdoors on Wilson Patten Street for breaching a Tree Preservation Order.
Go Outdoors appeared at Warrington Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to two charges of causing or permitting the topping or lopping of protected trees, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
The offences took place during November 2014 when the company carried out work on the trees which was in breach of a Tree Preservation Order.
Go Outdoors was fined £1,000 for each offence, ordered to pay costs of £1,732.50, plus a £100 victim surcharge, totalling £3,832.50.
Peter Astley, assistant director for regulation and public protection, said: “It is important that businesses, and residents alike, make sure they have checked before carrying out any works on trees which may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order on their property.
“The council takes breaching of TPOs very seriously, especially if previous advice and warnings have been ignored, and we will take the strongest possible action necessary to protect our vitally important tree stock.”
“Our planning teams are more than happy to advise people about TPOs and other planning issues so that people can make informed decisions.”
4 Comments
Shame the council have just literally killed a tree by us saying it was over hanging roofs and saying it has 30 year life span which is rubbish… yes no one disputing it needs a trim but not killed, i protested and got threatened with the police, i said ring them.. instead the boss come out and it was decided the tree would stay but would be pollarded.. waste of money and time, a trim would have been suffice!!
They have pollarded a line of trees along a road not far from me a few times and it doesn’t kill them. It takes a while but they do eventually grow back again with new shoots lower down and look ok. Does seem a bit brutal though but maybe it’s the quickest and easiest way. To have threatened you with the police is ridiculous.
Rather ironic that a company selling items fo people to enjoy the great outdoors should be fined for chopping down/pruning a tree. I must admit I did giggle slightly.
So have they actually chopped it down or just topped/pruned it ? Can’t say I’ve ever noticed when I’ve driven past.
Maybe the council should attach little plaques to all the trees on peoples land that have TPO’s on to make it more obvious 😉
So the council take them to court, win, and the shop gets fined £3,832.50 for meddling with a tree?!? BUT the same council couldn’t get the Kinsway tyre wall removed or that bloke fined for time wasting and the same council just clear up after travellers break into areas and dump crap everywhere but never take them to court or fine them for fly tipping. Strange old world !