The controversial felling of a tree in a conservation area was down to “human error”.
A blue pine was chopped down by contractors working on land behind Roselea and High Stakes cottages, in Whorlton, earlier this month.
As reported in last week’s Mercury, it was while that work was being carried out that a pipe connecting an external domestic fuel tank to a nearby cottage was accidentally cut, leading to an investigation into potential pollution by the Environment Agency.
The contractors cleared a section of hedge and a tree on February 10 and that work resulted in a resident making a complaint about the felling of the pine to Whorlton Parish Council.
Because the village is in a conservation area there are strict rules around chopping down trees. And, after receiving the resident’s complaint, the parish council contacted Durham County Council’s planning department to alert the authority that a tree had been felled without permission.
The county council subsequently acknowledged receipt of the communication and confirmed that the complaint would be investigated.
Cllr George Stastny, chairman of Whorlton and Westwick Parish Council, said: “As chairman, I wrote on behalf of the parish council to Durham County Council planners and they responded very quickly in writing.”
The tree stood on land which is administered by agency John G Hills of Leyburn and the firm’s rural surveyor Inigo Harrison said the contractors were simply attempting to cut back a hedge that was growing too high.
“It’s regrettable that it happened, there was no intention to circumvent any restrictions,” he told the Mercury.
“It’s my human error in not realising it was in a conservation area. We were trying to do the right thing for the nearby property given the height those trees can get to.
“We have had a letter from the (county council) planning department and will comply with any requirements they have.”
