Men fined for chopping down protected trees

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 £3,844 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1,538 and costs of £994.70.

Barrett, of Lincoln Road, Faldingworth, was fined £1,600. He was also told to pay a victim surcharge of £640 and costs of £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: “Tree 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.”

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