Fined for felling 3 TPO Trees

[Arborist]

https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/bray-holyport-fifield/121975/bray-property-manager-fined-for-felling-protected-trees.html

[hamilton32]

Ha, that's nothing to a property manager! The fines should be much greater to actually put people like that off.

[richy_B]

Amenity value of 3 mature london planes? £20-25k a piece I'd say. Good place to start the fine.

[Stubby]

i think property developers amatise  the cost of a fine into the development overall costs as a matter of course now a days . Like ,say , the cost of fuel for the diggers .....

[Arborist]

The fine that he has is very low for the three trees, he would have also got a criminal record. The case was herd at the magistrates court so was more than likely the maximum amount that the mag can fine.

i wonder why they didn’t push it up to crown court and if the council will use the proceeds of crime act to get any more money

The area where the trees were felled are in a very affluent area of Bray where even the cheapest houses are probably around £1000000 to buy.

[Adam M]

"one count",.... should have been three counts. 

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

2 hours ago, Arborist said:

if the council will use the proceeds of crime act to get any more money

This question came up previously...  Is my memory right in thinking if the council do do (do-do!) an attempt at a proceeds of crime recovery, they bear all the costs (and potential for failure) but don't see any of the money if it is successful?

 

If that's the way it works, it would be no wonder if the council aren't keen to take all the risks / costs / work for no apparent gain (notwithstanding the deterrent effect.)

[Gary Prentice]

1 minute ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

but don't see any of the money if it is successful?

I don't think they see any money whatever the charge is.

 

I've said this before, the law needs to be changed so that ring-fenced money comes back locally to replace the loss of amenity.

[Adam M]

16 minutes ago, Gary Prentice said:

I don't think they see any money whatever the charge is.

 

I've said this before, the law needs to be changed so that ring-fenced money comes back locally to replace the loss of amenity.

We've had costs back but fines go to central government. 

[Arborist]

I thought it was only unlimited if the case cad herd in a crown court.

 

am I not right in saying that magistrate courts are capped at 5k fines and 6months clink? That’s for any crime.