Aldeburgh man fined £5,500 after cutting down tree in his garden in breach of East Suffolk Council order in place for 30 years
An Aldeburgh man has been handed a £5,500 fine for felling a protected tree in his own garden.
Russell Abrahams, 62, pleaded guilty to breaching a preservation order after cutting down an oak tree in the garden of his Thorpe Road home.
The order was imposed 34 years ago, and an inspector from East Suffolk Council visiting last summer found Abrahams had felled the tree.
He had previously submitted an application for tree works in his garden, but this did not cover the oak.
On June 19, Abrahams appeared before Suffolk Magistrates' Court, where he was fined £5,500.
He was also required to pay £1,302 in prosecution costs and a £2,000 surcharge to the court.
East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Rachel Smith-Lyte, said: “While this wasn’t a case of deliberate negligence, or of a large developer felling dozens of trees at once, it was nonetheless reckless and resulted in the destruction of a healthy, maturing, protected oak tree.
“Our investigation found that the tree showed no signs of any decay that might present an imminent danger to property and justify emergency work permitted within the legislation.
“In any case, we need to change our attitudes towards decaying wood as it is essential to wildlife, in particular species of beetle and their larvae that depend on decaying wood.
“No insects means no food for many species of bird.”