Large scale Tree Felling & Dumping
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(Update) September 2007 - The owner of this small section of land, Mr. Jones of Pensby, now appears to be heeding to the warnings from a Environment Agency enforcement officer and has begun to clear some of the land. We continue to monitor the situation to ensure full compliance is adhered to.
(Update) August 2007 - You will now be aware that the latest issue with this matter relates to the land that lies between the fields and Roy Smiths' small holding. ITPAS tracked down the owner of this small strip of land as a Pensby man who offers garden clearing services. Having been passed from pillar to post between the Environment Agency and WBC Environmental Health Dept (all the staff of which were genuinely helpful), we housed the matter with the EA.
Due to the fact the owner, a Mr Jones, is dumping waste on his own land, a waste management licence would be required. He commits a number of offences without one! However, on this occassion, the EA enforcement officer has given Mr Jones a warning on the proviso he clears the land of all the waste within a few weeks.
ITPAS concur with this course of action, but will monitor the situation to ensure he abides with the agreement. Should he not do so, he can still be liable to prosecution.
We will provide further updates on this page as and when we are able to do so.
(Update) May 2007 - At last this matter has been resolved, (read full article below) or in part at least. The WBC Tree Preservation Officer has placed a blanket Tree Preservation Order on all trees in this section of land that is privately owned.
We would like to point out however, that the main complaints about this issue were in respect of the smaller section of land that borders the field on the Irby side of the woodland. This is still being used as a dumping ground and again, much felling has taken place.
Mr Roy Smith who owns the main section of land, has met with ITPAS committee members and is keen to point out that he intends to conserve the nature of his section of land. He conducted some felling to damaged trees after the severe storms in January of this year. As a result he has planted two trees for each one taken down. He has also seeded a large part of the cleared area and hopes to continue to manage the land in an effective manner with as little disturbance to the local habitat as possible.
March 2007
Concerns have been expressed by a number of local people and ITPAS members about what appears to be a large scale tree felling operation on the private land up on Irby Hill.
This land borders National Trust Forestry and Woodland and has been known for time and memorial as Irby Heath. The small enclosure was also one of the first Scout camp sites in the UK and as such a small building endures special protection.
We are led to believe the land has recently been purchased and are making efforts to find out who the new land owner is so we can make contact to find out what is happening and make a plea for preservation before it becomes too late!
Because of the difficulties in this, we have now made contact with the Forestry Commission, National Trust and WBC Tree Preservation Officer. All these organisations are in disbelief at the massive destruction of habitat.
As a result, we hope to be taking some positive action and we will report back to you via these pages.
If you have any further information, then please do click here to email us in confidence.
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