Residents' group anger at homes developer and Wigan Council over the felling of protected trees
Angry residents and councillors are demanding an investigation after protected trees were cut down illegally in their Wigan village.
Three trees, covered by tree preservation orders (TPOs), were felled by contractors for Persimmon Homes at a new housing development off Pepper Lane, Standish.
They were chopped down despite clear maps of which trees were protected on the greenfield site, with a Wigan Council representative reportedly later saying the destruction was a “mistake”.
Residents alerted neighbourhood forum Standish Voice to potential illegal felling of trees on the site, which was passed at appeal for 57 homes.
The local authority was contacted immediately but did not respond in time to save the trees.
Standish Voice along with Standish councillors Debbie Parkinson, Ray Whittingham and Terry Mugan are demanding an investigation.
Persimmon blames an error in a tree survey carried out by a third-party company, adding that the council has says no further action will be taken.
But the local authority insists an inquiry is still open.
Tree Preservation Orders were put on individual and clumps of trees on the site ahead of the planning application being decided.
Under law, anyone flouting a TPO can land an unlimited fine by magistrates.
A Standish Voice spokesperson said: “It is heartbreaking that TPOs were put in place only for them to be disregarded by Persimmon and their contractors and these large mature trees destroyed.
“We contacted the council in good time for them to come out and inspect what was taking place but three trees were butchered before they acted.
“The council told us that this incident was a ‘genuine mistake’ but that is not good enough.
"There should be a proper investigation and prosecutions if TPO trees were cut down.
"If I went through a red light by ‘mistake’ I would expect to be fined.
“Persimmon’s last housebuilding site in Standish was riddled with poor workmanship – including the road network – and a disregard of current and new residents. The council needs to get a grip to ensure this does not happen again with this new site.”
David Proctor, assistant director for planning and regeneration at the town hall, said: “We fully understand the strength of feeling from residents about the felling of trees at the Pepper Lane development, including those protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).
“We take the protection of trees extremely seriously, and we are currently engaging with the developer and their contractors to establish exactly how this situation occurred.
“Once our inquiries are complete, we will then consider whether further action is appropriate.”
A Persimmon spokesperson said: "The Council has confirmed that our contractor followed the correct procedures throughout the works.
"However, an error in the original tree survey carried out by a third-party company regrettably led to the removal of three trees that should not have been felled.
"Our contractor has since met with the Council’s tree officer who confirmed that the stumps of the three trees will remain in place to allow for regrowth and no further action will be taken.”
On learning of Persimmon statement a council spokesperson said that no such assurance has been given, and that the investigation is ongoing.