Owners of land ordered to replant trees after they were felled
The green space is an area of grass at the junction of Wapping Street and Winter Street in Halliwell.
It was sold to a ‘mystery buyer’ for £252,000 last year, a sum vastly higher than the guide price of £5,000 to £10,000.
But following this sale, around a year ago, residents report that a number of “mature” trees on the land were felled.
The area of land (Image: Newsquest) Now, the owners of the land have been ordered by the Forestry Commission to replant trees in place of the old ones.
A notice was recently put up on the corner of the land, addressed to the owner/occupier of the land and written by a Forestry Commission official.
It reads: “It has been established that you felled trees to the northwest side of Raglan Street and the northwest side of Wapping Street, Bolton, without a felling license in contravention of the provisions of the Forestry Act 1967.
“The Forestry Commissioners, in pursuance of their powers under Section 17A of that Act, hereby give notice requiring you to carry out the restocking specified in the schedule below.”
The notice (Image: Newsquest) It adds that, before June 30 next year, the area “must be restocked with native broadleaf species to achieve 30 individual trees”.
Read more: Newly planted trees ‘deliberately pulled up’ in ‘senseless act’
Read more: The number of trees with preservation orders felled this year
Read more: Mystery buyer pays £252,000 for tiny plot of land expected to cost just £5,000
The notice states that if the trees cannot be naturally regenerated from remaining stumps, then nine small leaved lime trees, nine alder trees, nine Norway maple trees and three sycamore trees must be planted.
It adds: “For a period of 10 years from planting, or in the case of natural regeneration, the first visible signs of regeneration, the trees must be properly protected against damage, adequately weeded and maintained in accordance with good forestry practice.”
One resident who lives nearby said: “It was disappointing (when they were felled) because they were very mature trees, they were huge.
“I think it’s fair enough, if they have not followed procedure then I think what they are being asked to do is fair enough.”
Where the trees used to sit (Image: Newsquest) A couple of other residents said they would like to see the trees replanted, with one adding “trees improve everything”.
Cllr Safwaan Patel of Halliwell said: “If the Forestry Commission has said they need planting then there is no way around it.
“Halliwell has a lack of green spaces throughout.
“It is the landowner’s responsibility to make sure to check the rules, this seems like an oversight on the owner’s part.”
A Forestry Commission spokesperson said: “The Forestry Commission takes all cases of illegal tree felling very seriously.
“Following confirmation of an illegal tree felling, the Forestry Commission has served a Restocking Notice for this site, requiring the landowner to restock the land with trees.”
Source – INDIA TV
