Two Residents Fined for Chopping Down Protected Tree in Osterley
Total of £5,000 has to be paid for felling mature tree
The tree was over 80 years old
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Two Osterley residents, along with a Stanmore-based waste removal contractor, have been fined more than £5,000 for felling a mature tree when work was being done on their home.
The mature tree was in a protected conservation area and is estimated to have been over 80 years old.
The Council’s Planning Enforcement Team led the investigations after the felling was reported to them.
The three parties were ordered by a judge to pay fines and costs in the sum of £1,680 each, totalling £5,040 for causing significant harm to the community and the environment.
Outlining why she had given this punishment, the judge at Uxbridge Magistrates Court highlighted Hounslow Council’s climate emergency declaration and the role trees play in protecting the environment.
Reacting to the court judgement Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development at Hounslow Council, said, “This case is another stark reminder to residents that the correct procedures must be followed when carrying out home improvement work on your property or when hiring contractors.
“The Council has a zero-tolerance approach to this type of crime, which harms the community and the environment. Nobody wants to be hit with an easily avoidable fine like this, especially during the cost of living crisis.”
The Council recently announced the return of the ‘Free Trees for Hounslow’ initiative, which offers 1,000 free fruit trees to residents, schools, and allotment holders to plant.
Councillor Katherine Dunne, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy at Hounslow Council added, “Trees play a major role in mitigating against the effects of climate change and making our borough a greener and healthier place to live, which is why punishments for cutting down trees illegally is so important.
“With COP27 (the world’s biggest annual climate conference) just around the corner we have once again committed to making tangible changes by planting 7,500 trees this year, including one for every child born in the borough and doubling our free tree offer so that even more residents can get involved.”
For more information about Free Trees for Hounslow please visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/free-trees or if you are interested in tree planting generally, or would like to adopt a tree visit www.hounslow.greentalk.io.
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November 8, 2022
