Maria Miller has called for swift action to be taken to bring the owners of land at Dixon Road back to court after their failure to replant the trees which they illegally felled. More than 500 trees were illegally felled in June 2014, with complete lack of regard for the environment and wildlife. This was the first prosecution for unlawful tree felling for some years, and although the landowners were found guilty, they were not fined. 

Maria said: “The Forestry Commission ordered the trees to be replanted by 31 January. It is clear that the land owners have not complied with this order and failure to do so is a criminal offence. The owners of the land have blatantly flouted the requirement to replant and I believe that the public interest would now be best served by ensuring that they are taken back to court and that a significant fine is imposed.”