A couple who hired a tree surgeon to fell a protected oak tree have been
ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £25,500.
Simon and Deborah Pooley, of York Road, Bury St Edmunds, were sentenced at
Chelmsford Crown Court after being convicted of felling a tree protected by a
tree preservation order at Ipswich Crown Court last November.
The Pooleys, who owned the development plot the tree stood on at Maltings Lane,
Ingham, near Bury St Edmunds, were fined £8,500 and ordered to pay £17,000
costs for their part in the felling.
Anthony Leek, the contractor who felled the tree, was fined £1,500 and ordered
to pay £3,000 costs.
The convictions come following lengthy prosecution proceedings brought by St
Edmundsbury Borough Council. The tree was felled in January 2005, despite an
exchange of correspondence with the council and shortly before a planning
appeal site visit was due to take place.
The owner claimed that the tree was dangerous.
Helen Levack, chairman of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Development Control
Committee, said: "We are absolutely delighted with the sentence handed down by
the court. The fact that the fines and costs total £30,000 shows just how
seriously these matters are taken.
"Protecting the natural heritage of our beautiful borough is equally as
important as preserving our historic buildings. Preservation orders are placed
on trees for a good reason and when the law is broken, we have to react
robustly.
"We hope this sentence will send a firm message to anyone else who is
considering taking similar action without permission."
The court ordered that the costs and fines should be paid within six months and
that prison sentences should be served in default if the payments are not made.
All three are appealing against their convictions.
