On 8 February 2018 at Chelmsford Magistrates Court, Mark Wright and Danny Swift were each found guilty of causing or permitting works to the two trees in the village of Abridge in June 2017 without the authorisation of Epping Forest District Council.
Permission had been granted for limited work to be carried out to the trees, but after Wright had engaged Swift to carry out the work, inspecting officers found that branches on both oaks had been far more excessively cut than authorised.
"This ultimately caused serious damage to both trees and increases the risk of decay," the council said. "No consent would have been given for the extent of the work carried out."
Magistrates accepted that Wright had intended to plead guilty and he was fined £440 for each tree, while Swift was fined £660 for each tree. Both were ordered to pay a contribution towards the council’s prosecution costs of £600.
Fines issued for excessive work to TPO trees
A client and contractor have been fined for excessive work to two mature oaks trees protected by tree preservation orders (TPOs).
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