Residents reminded to follow tree protection orders
Residents are being reminded not to cut down trees with a preservation order – or they may risk being charged.
The warning comes after council officers were forced to replant trees and seek costs after a Joydens Wood landowner ignored orders and requests to replant replacements.
A tree preservation order can be made by anybody by applying to the council with the aim to preserve the natural environment and protect trees and woodland for future generations.
Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council says TPOs are important to protect the borough’s green spaces.
“Tree preservation orders may not seem like the most serious crime but many trees under such orders are there to protect people’s privacy or are very old. If we don’t have plans in place to enforce if necessary, the protection orders won’t mean anything.
Many residents respect nature and abide by the orders and it is only a minority who think they are above these rules that lead to prosecution – I would ask residents to check to make sure trees they are cutting down aren’t subject to TPOs”.
Prosecution is only necessary where land owners have knowingly felled trees that are protected. If TPOs are ignored, land owners are required to replant trees as a replacement.
