Builders face action over felling (From Free Press Series)

Builders face action over felling

THE developers who chopped down a mature ash tree last week, which was to have been at the heart of the new Riverside Walk Development, have been cautioned over their actions.

Monmouthshire County Council's tree officer George Weston confirmed that Galliard Homes Ltd had been issued with a notice of intent to prosecute.

It had been claimed by the developers that the ash tree would not survive when the ground levels are raised during the construction of 47 new homes on land behind the Somerfield supermarket and Nailors Lane.

The tree, which was sited within a conservation area and protected by a steel fence, was to have been preserved as stipulated by the original planning conditions.

Mr Weston added: "We've carried out an internal investigation and the council did not receive any request by the company for a change in the planning conditions or an application to chop the tree down.

"The council will be looking to take appropriate action to secure a conviction under the Town and Country planning Act 1990.

"It would have been unlikely that we would have allowed a cedar tree to be chosen as its replacement as suggested by the developers in last week's report as we would prefer to see species native to these isles than imported exotic ones."

Cllr Olive Evans said: "As the tree was in a conservation area it didn't need a separate preservation order on it and therefore the developers had no right to chop it down.

"This is just another shocking example of developers trying to get away with as much as they can with little regard to others.

"A tree enhances the environment and this tree was to have been the centrepiece of the development so that it could have been enjoyed by everyone."