Man fined £112k for illegally felling trees

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

1 hour ago, Stubby said:

will the remainder of the stumps have to be ground out removed

Stefan had 'wheels turning' before the stems had hit the ground.....  

[Khriss]

Outstanding result  k

[Khriss]

( farmer managed to do all that felling without killing himself ?? )

[daltontrees]

" NRW said the felled trees were very mature and provided a valuable habitat for wildlife, so it would never have granted a licence for their removal. "

 

Confusing. Is NRW the same as the Forestry Commission? The Commission felling license rules are statutory, and were designed originally to conserve national stocks of timber, not to preserve habitat. I know the Commission's role has evelved since then, but this doesn't seem an appropriate reason to refuse a felling license. If they want to preserve valuable habitat, is there a more appropriate legal basis than felling licenses?

 

That said, it seems a good ruling.

[gdh]

4 minutes ago, daltontrees said:

" NRW said the felled trees were very mature and provided a valuable habitat for wildlife, so it would never have granted a licence for their removal. "

 

Confusing. Is NRW the same as the Forestry Commission? The Commission felling license rules are statutory, and were designed originally to conserve national stocks of timber, not to preserve habitat. I know the Commission's role has evelved since then, but this doesn't seem an appropriate reason to refuse a felling license. If they want to preserve valuable habitat, is there a more appropriate legal basis than felling licenses?

 

That said, it seems a good ruling.

NRW/natural resources Wales replaced the forestry commission and other things like river management in Wales with one big government body a few years ago it's the same people offices etc just less efficient :-) 

[daltontrees]

Thanks for clarification ghd. Still don't know why they are using timber stock protection legislation to protect habitat, though.

[Paul in the woods]

15 hours ago, daltontrees said:

Thanks for clarification ghd. Still don't know why they are using timber stock protection legislation to protect habitat, though.

As part of the felling licence app you need to agree to safeguarding European Protected Species, or agree to obtaining a licence, both of which I would guess would have been refused in this case. Perhaps it's easier to convict someone for not obtaining a felling licence rather than damage done to EPSs?

[fagus]

Fines are a priority debt because the magistrates' court has the power to send you to prison for non-payment.