Pendle News Room

Tree surgeon Kyle Halstead of Barrowford was found guilty of cutting down the trees and also ordered to pay Pendle Council’s court costs of £525.

The trees were on Barrowford Road and Netherheys Road, two adjoining roads between Colne and Barrowford, and they were important to local people in the area.

Philip Mousdale, Corporate Director for Pendle Council said:

“It has taken us two years to bring this person to justice as he had failed to attend court previously and the court had to issue a warrant for his arrest.

“I’d like to thank our planning and legal teams for their efforts in tracking him down so that he was successfully prosecuted and fined.”

As the Local Planning Authority, Pendle Council can protect trees and woodlands legally, using Tree Preservation Orders.

Council Leader, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed commented:

“Mature trees like this enhance people’s appreciation of their areas and are also important for ecology and our environment.

“Tree Preservation Orders are there to protect trees which enhance a local area, especially if they are very visible to people in a neighbourhood, as these trees were.

Pendle Council is urging people to take care and check before doing any tree work, including lopping off branches.

All trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders in Pendle can be seen on Pendle Council’s website www.pendle.gov.uk/trees where there is an interactive map.