Landowner fined after felling protected trees
Ipswich Magistrates Court.
A landowner has been ordered to pay more than £3,000 after admitting his part in the destruction of five trees in a conservation area.
Stephen Badcock appeared before Ipswich Magistrates, on Tuesday, May 30, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing and permitting works which led to the destruction of the trees at The Greyhound, at The Green, in Flempton.
The court heard that the offence, contrary to Section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, happened in September last year.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council enforcement officers investigated the matter following a complaint from the local ward councillor.
Badcock of Venus Hill, Bovingdon, Hemel Hempstead, was ordered to pay a fine of £2,500, costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Subcontractor Sutton Services Ltd, who he had employed to do the job, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in April and were fined £1,500 and order to pay £200 in costs.