Talk about a pricey mistake! Claire Rands from a posh neighbourhood in Newport thought she was in the clear when she decided to chop down a century-old lime tree in her garden 13 years ago. But little did she know this would come back to haunt her – to the tune of £116,000!
Back in 2012, the Rands family, worried about recurring grass fires near their home, hired a tree surgeon to remove the towering tree. It was meant to offer peace of mind, but fast forward to now, and it’s caused quite the legal saga.
The trouble is, this tree was under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which means it was protected by law due to its age and value to the area. The council recently caught wind of its disappearance and decided to take action, leading to a lengthy court battle.
Claire said she genuinely believed she was doing nothing wrong, as she wasn’t aware of the TPO protections. But that didn’t sway the court, which found her guilty of causing or permitting the destruction of the tree. Her husband, Damon, was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Judge Celia Hughes stood firm, stating it’s “contrary to common sense” for someone to evade responsibility after directing such an action. In the end, Claire was slapped with a £16,000 fine and ordered to cover £100,000 in prosecution costs.
The case might have taken over a decade to come to light, but it’s now setting a serious precedent for similar TPO violations. Experts emphasise this sends a strong message: protected trees aren’t to be messed with. They’re thrilled about the newfound clarity this judgment brings, especially with upcoming changes in Welsh planning laws.
So, next time you’re eyeing that old tree in your garden, make sure to check its status before you make a move – it might just save you a pretty penny! 🌳✨ #TreePreservation #LegalLessons #GardenGaffe